Specific binding agents to hepatocyte growth factor

ABSTRACT

Specific binding agents that interact with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) are described. Methods of treating cancer by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of a specific binding agent to HGF are described. Methods of detecting the amount of HGF in a sample using a specific binding agent to HGF are described.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/893,576, filed Jul. 16, 2004, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/488,681, filed Jul. 18, 2003, each of which is incorporated herein by reference for any purpose.

REFERENCE TO THE SEQUENCE LISTING

The present application is being filed along with a Sequence Listing in electronic format. The Sequence Listing is provided as a file entitled A-833-US-DIV_ST25.txt, created Nov. 21, 2013, which is 139,264 bytes in size. The information in the electronic format of the Sequence Listing is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to specific binding agents that bind to hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). Compositions, methods of producing said compositions, and methods for the treatment of various disorders, such as certain types of cancer, including, but not limited to, solid tumors and hematologic malignancies are also described.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) has been identified as a potent mitogen for hepatocytes. HGF was also identified as a secretory protein of fibroblasts and smooth muscle that induces motility of epithelial cells. HGF is also referred to in the literature as Scatter Factor (SF).

HGF is a multifunctional heterodimeric polypeptide produced predominantly by mesenchymal cells, which acts as a ligand for the Met receptor tyrosine kinase (Met). The human Met receptor is also known as “c-met.” Signaling through the Met receptor tyrosine kinase-HGF (Met-HGF) pathway has been shown to lead to an array of cellular responses, including, but not limited to proliferation (mitosis), scattering (motility), stimulation of cell movement through a matrix (invasion), and branching morphogenesis. In vivo, the Met-HGF signaling pathway (Met-HGF) plays a role in, e.g., neural induction, liver regeneration, wound healing, angiogenesis, growth, invasion, morphologic differentiation, and normal embryological development. In addition to these functions, the Met-HGF pair may also play a role in human cancers. Aberrant Met-HGF signaling has been shown to be involved in tumorigenesis, particularly in the development of the invasive and metastatic phenotypes. Certain pathogens, such as malaria, have also been found to exploit aberrant Met-HGF signaling. See Carrolo et al., Nat. Med. 2003 9(11):1363-9 (Oct. 12, 2003), the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference for any purpose.

Further, some groups have reported that HGF may play a role in angiogenesis and in angiogenesis-mediated disease, such as proliferative diabetic reinopathy or macular degeneration. See e.g., Grant, D. S. et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90(5) 1937-41 (1993); Bussolino et al., J. Cell Biol., 119(3):629-641 (1992); Montesano et al., Cell, 67:901-908 (1991); Canon et al., Br. J. Ophthalmol. 84(7):732-5 (2000). HGF may also play a role in apoptosis or programmed cell death. Tumors can arise when normal regulatory mechanisms fail to maintain a balance between proliferation and apoptosis, such that cells accumulate in excess numbers. HGF can effect both proliferation and apoptosis, depending on the biological context.

Because HGF is involved in many physiological processes, in certain instances, it may be useful to have molecules that can regulate its activity. For example, in certain instances, such molecules may be useful for treating a variety of different types of cancer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In certain embodiments, the invention provides an isolated polypeptide comprising at least one complementarity determining region (CDR) selected from CDR1a, CDR2a, and CDR3a

wherein CDR1a comprises the amino acid sequence a b c d e f g h i j k l m n p q, wherein amino acid a is selected from lysine, arginine, or glutamine; amino acid b is selected from serine or alanine; amino acid c is serine, amino acid d is glutamine; amino acid e is selected from serine, glycine, or aspartic acid; amino acid f is selected from valine or isoleucine or is not present; amino acid g is selected from leucine or phenylalanine or is not present; amino acid h is selected from phenylalanine or tyrosine or is not present; amino acid i is serine or not present; amino acid j is serine or not present; amino acid k is selected from asparagine, threonine, or not present; amino acid l is selected from asparagine, isoleucine, or valine; amino acid m is selected from lysine, arginine, serine, asparagine, or aspartic acid; amino acid n is selected from asparagine or serine; amino acid o is selected from tyrosine, aspartic acid, tryptophan, or asparagine; amino acid p is leucine; and amino acid q is selected from alanine, glycine, or asparagine;

wherein CDR2a comprises the amino acid sequence r s t u v w x, wherein amino acid r is selected from tryptophan, alanine, valine, glutamic acid, or glycine; amino acid s is alanine, amino acid t is serine, amino acid u is selected from threonine, serine, or aspartic acid; amino acid v is selected from arginine or leucine; amino acid w is selected from glutamic acid, glutamine, or alanine; and amino acid x is selected from serine, asparagine, or threonine;

wherein CDR3a comprises the amino acid sequence y z a′ b′ c′ d′ e′ f′ g′ h′, wherein amino acid y is selected from glutamine or leucine; amino acid z is selected from glutamine, asparagine, or arginine; amino acid a′ is selected from tyrosine, histidine, alanine, or serine; amino acid b′ is selected from phenylalanine, tyrosine, aspartic acid, asparagine, or isoleucine; amino acid c′ is selected from serine, glycine, or asparagine; amino acid d′ is selected from proline, tyrosine, threonine, phenylalanine, aspartic acid, leucine, or tryptophan; amino acid e′ is proline; amino acid f′ is proline or is not present; amino acid g′ is tryptophan, leucine, proline, tyrosine, or isoleucine; and amino acid h′ is threonine or asparagine; and

wherein the polypeptide, in association with an antibody heavy chain, is capable of binding hepatocyte growth factor (HGF).

In certain embodiments, the invention provides an isolated polypeptide comprising at least one complementarity determining region (CDR) selected from CDR1b, CDR2b, and CDR3b

wherein CDR1b comprises the amino acid sequence a b c d e f g, wherein amino acid a is serine or is not present; amino acid b is selected from aspartic acid or glycine, or is not present; amino acid c is selected from aspartic acid, glycine, serine, valine, threonine, or isoleucine; amino acid d is tyrosine; amino acid e is selected from tyrosine or glycine; amino acid f is selected from isoleucine, methionine, or tryptophan; and amino acid g is selected from histidine, asparagine, or serine;

wherein CDR2b comprises the amino acid sequence h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x, wherein amino acid h is selected from tryptophan, tyrosine, valine, asparagine, or glutamic acid; amino acid i is selected from isoleucine, phenylalanine, or valine; amino acid j is selected from asparagine, serine, tryptophan, or tyrosine; amino acid k is selected from proline, serine, tyrosine, or histidine; amino acid l is selected from asparagine, serine, or aspartic acid; amino acid m is selected from serine or glycine; amino acid n is selected from glycine or serine, or is not present; amino acid o is selected from glycine, threonine, aspartic acid, serine, isoleucine, or asparagine; amino acid p is selected from threonine, isoleucine, or lysine; amino acid q is selected from asparagine or tyrosine; amino acid r is selected from tyrosine or histidine; amino acid s is selected from alanine or asparagine; amino acid t is selected from glutamine, aspartic acid, or proline; amino acid u is selected from lysine or serine; amino acid v is selected from phenylalanine, valine, or leucine; amino acid w is selected from glutamine or lysine, and amino acid x is selected from glycine or serine;

wherein CDR3b comprises the amino acid sequence y z a′ b′ c′ d′ e′ f′ g′ h′ i′ j′ k′ l′ m′ n′ o′ p′ q′ r′, wherein amino acid y is selected from glutamic acid, aspartic acid, serine, or glycine, or is not present; amino acid z is selected from leucine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, histidine, proline, or glycine, or is not present; amino acid a′ is selected from glutamic acid, tyrosine, or leucine, or is not present; amino acid b′ is selected from leucine, asparagine, glycine, histidine, tyrosine, or tryptophan, or is not present; amino acid c′ is selected from arginine, serine, glutamic acid, tyrosine, glycine, or phenylalanine, or is not present; amino acid d′ is glycine or is not present; amino acid e′ is selected from tryptophan or tyrosine, or is not present; amino acid f′ is aspartic acid or is not present; amino acid g′ is selected from serine or arginine, or is not present; amino acid h′ is serine or is not present; amino acid i′ is selected from glycine or tyrosine, or is not present; amino acid j′ is selected from tyrosine, glutamic acid, or aspartic acid, or is not present; amino acid k′ is selected from tyrosine, phenylalanine, or aspartic acid, or is not present; amino acid l′ is selected from tyrosine, aspartic acid, histidine, or tryptophan, or is not present; amino acid m′ is selected from tyrosine, glycine, aspartic acid, proline, or serine, or is not present; amino acid n′ is selected from glycine, valine, tyrosine, or aspartic acid, or is not present; amino acid o′ is selected from leucine, alanine, glycine, or tyrosine, or is not present; amino acid p′ is selected from methionine, phenylalanine, or tyrosine; amino acid q′ is aspartic acid, and amino acid r′ is selected from valine, tyrosine, isoleucine, or proline; and

wherein the polypeptide, in association with an antibody light chain, is capable of binding HGF.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides an isolated specific binding agent, wherein the specific binding agent comprises:

(i) a first polypeptide comprising at least one complementarity determining region (CDR) selected from CDR1a, CDR2a, and CDR3a wherein CDR1a comprises the amino acid sequence a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q, wherein amino acid a is selected from lysine, arginine, or glutamine; amino acid b is selected from serine or alanine; amino acid c is serine, amino acid d is glutamine; amino acid e is selected from serine, glycine, or aspartic acid; amino acid f is selected from valine or isoleucine or is not present; amino acid g is selected from leucine or phenylalanine or is not present; amino acid h is selected from phenylalanine or tyrosine or is not present; amino acid i is serine or not present; amino acid j is serine or not present; amino acid k is selected from asparagine, threonine, or not present; amino acid l is selected from asparagine, isoleucine, or valine; amino acid m is selected from lysine, arginine, serine, asparagine, or aspartic acid; amino acid n is selected from asparagine or serine; amino acid o is selected from tyrosine, aspartic acid, tryptophan, or asparagine; amino acid p is leucine; and amino acid q is selected from alanine, glycine, or asparagine;

wherein CDR2a comprises the amino acid sequence r s t u v w x, wherein amino acid r is selected from tryptophan, alanine, valine, glutamic acid, or glycine; amino acid s is alanine, amino acid t is serine, amino acid u is selected from threonine, serine, or aspartic acid; amino acid v is selected from arginine or leucine; amino acid w is selected from glutamic acid, glutamine, or alanine; and amino acid x is selected from serine, asparagine, or threonine;

wherein CDR3a comprises the amino acid sequence y z a′ b′ c′ d′ e′ f′ g′ h′, wherein amino acid y is selected from glutamine or leucine; amino acid z is selected from glutamine, asparagine, or arginine; amino acid a′ is selected from tyrosine, histidine, alanine, or serine; amino acid b′ is selected from phenylalanine, tyrosine, aspartic acid, asparagine, or isoleucine; amino acid c′ is selected from serine, glycine, or asparagine; amino acid d′ is selected from proline, tyrosine, threonine, phenylalanine, aspartic acid, leucine, or tryptophan; amino acid e′ is proline; amino acid f′ is proline or is not present; amino acid g′ is tryptophan, leucine, proline, tyrosine, or isoleucine; and amino acid h′ is threonine or asparagine; and

wherein the first polypeptide, in association with an antibody heavy chain, is capable of binding hepatocyte growth factor (HGF); and

(ii) a second polypeptide comprising at least one complementarity determining region (CDR) selected from CDR1b, CDR2b, or CDR3b wherein CDR1b comprises the amino acid sequence a b c d e f g, wherein amino acid a is serine or is not present; amino acid b is selected from aspartic acid or glycine, or is not present; amino acid c is selected from aspartic acid, glycine, serine, valine, threonine, or isoleucine; amino acid d is tyrosine; amino acid e is selected from tyrosine or glycine; amino acid f is selected from isoleucine, methionine, or tryptophan; and amino acid g is selected from histidine, asparagine, or serine;

wherein CDR2b comprises the amino acid sequence h i j k l m n o p q r t u v w x, wherein amino acid h is selected from tryptophan, tyrosine, valine, asparagine, or glutamic acid; amino acid i is selected from isoleucine, phenylalanine, or valine; amino acid j is selected from asparagine, serine, tryptophan, or tyrosine; amino acid k is selected from proline, serine, tyrosine, or histidine; amino acid l is selected from asparagine, serine, or aspartic acid; amino acid m is selected from serine or glycine; amino acid n is selected from glycine or serine, or is not present; amino acid o is selected from glycine, threonine, aspartic acid, serine, isoleucine, or asparagine; amino acid p is selected from threonine, isoleucine, or lysine; amino acid q is selected from asparagine or tyrosine; amino acid r is selected from tyrosine or histidine; amino acid s is selected from alanine or asparagine; amino acid t is selected from glutamine, aspartic acid, or proline; amino acid u is selected from lysine or serine; amino acid v is selected from phenylalanine, valine, or leucine; amino acid w is selected from glutamine or lysine, and amino acid x is selected from glycine or serine;

wherein CDR3b comprises the amino acid sequence y z a′ b′ c′ d′ e′ f′ g′ h′ i′ j′ k′ l′ m′ n′ o′ p′ q′ r′, wherein amino acid y is selected from glutamic acid, aspartic acid, serine, or glycine, or is not present; amino acid z is selected from leucine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, histidine, proline, or glycine, or is not present; amino acid a′ is selected from glutamic acid, tyrosine, or leucine, or is not present; amino acid b′ is selected from leucine, asparagine, glycine, histidine, tyrosine, or tryptophan, or is not present; amino acid c′ is selected from arginine, serine, glutamic acid, tyrosine, glycine, or phenylalanine, or is not present; amino acid d′ is glycine or is not present; amino acid e′ is selected from tryptophan or tyrosine, or is not present; amino acid f′ is aspartic acid or is not present; amino acid g′ is selected from serine or arginine, or is not present; amino acid h′ is serine or is not present; amino acid i′ is selected from glycine or tyrosine, or is not present; amino acid j′ is selected from tyrosine, glutamic acid, or aspartic acid, or is not present; amino acid k′ is selected from tyrosine, phenylalanine, or aspartic acid, or is not present; amino acid l′ is selected from tyrosine, aspartic acid, histidine, or tryptophan, or is not present; amino acid m′ is selected from tyrosine, glycine, aspartic acid, proline, or serine, or is not present; amino acid n′ is selected from glycine, valine, tyrosine, or aspartic acid, or is not present; amino acid o′ is selected from leucine, alanine, glycine, or tyrosine, or is not present; amino acid p′ is selected from methionine, phenylalanine, or tyrosine; amino acid q′ is aspartic acid, and amino acid r′ is selected from valine, tyrosine, isoleucine, or proline; and

wherein the second polypeptide, in association with an antibody light chain, is capable of binding HGF.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides an isolated polypeptide comprising at least one amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, and 42.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides an isolated polypeptide comprising at least one amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, and 43.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising at least one nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising at least one nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes a polypeptide comprising at least one complementarity determining region (CDR) selected from CDR1a, CDR2a, and CDR3a

wherein CDR1a comprises the amino acid sequence a b c d e f g h i j k l m n p q, wherein amino acid a is selected from lysine, arginine, or glutamine; amino acid b is selected from serine or alanine; amino acid c is serine, amino acid d is glutamine; amino acid e is selected from serine, glycine, or aspartic acid; amino acid f is selected from valine or isoleucine or is not present; amino acid g is selected from leucine or phenylalanine or is not present; amino acid h is selected from phenylalanine or tyrosine or is not present; amino acid i is serine or not present; amino acid j is serine or not present; amino acid k is selected from asparagine, threonine, or not present; amino acid l is selected from asparagine, isoleucine, or valine; amino acid m is selected from lysine, arginine, serine, asparagine, or aspartic acid; amino acid n is selected from asparagine or serine; amino acid o is selected from tyrosine, aspartic acid, tryptophan, or asparagine; amino acid p is leucine; and amino acid q is selected from alanine, glycine, or asparagine;

wherein CDR2a comprises the amino acid sequence r s t u v w x, wherein amino acid r is selected from tryptophan, alanine, valine, glutamic acid, or glycine; amino acid s is alanine, amino acid t is serine, amino acid u is selected from threonine, serine, or aspartic acid; amino acid v is selected from arginine or leucine; amino acid w is selected from glutamic acid, glutamine, or alanine; and amino acid x is selected from serine, asparagine, or threonine;

wherein CDR3a comprises the amino acid sequence y z a′ b′ c′ d′ e′ f′ g′ h′, wherein amino acid y is selected from glutamine or leucine; amino acid z is selected from glutamine, asparagine, or arginine; amino acid a′ is selected from tyrosine, histidine, alanine, or serine; amino acid b′ is selected from phenylalanine, tyrosine, aspartic acid, asparagine, or isoleucine; amino acid c′ is selected from serine, glycine, or asparagine; amino acid d′ is selected from proline, tyrosine, threonine, phenylalanine, aspartic acid, leucine, or tryptophan; amino acid e′ is proline; amino acid f′ is proline or is not present; amino acid g′ is tryptophan, leucine, proline, tyrosine, or isoleucine; and amino acid h′ is threonine or asparagine; and

wherein the polypeptide, in association with an antibody heavy chain, is capable of binding hepatocyte growth factor (HGF).

In certain embodiments, the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes a polypeptide comprising at least one complementarity determining region (CDR) selected from CDR1b, CDR2b, and CDR3b

wherein CDR1b comprises the amino acid sequence a b c d e f g, wherein amino acid a is serine or is not present; amino acid b is selected from aspartic acid or glycine, or is not present; amino acid c is selected from aspartic acid, glycine, serine, valine, threonine, or isoleucine; amino acid d is tyrosine; amino acid e is selected from tyrosine or glycine; amino acid f is selected from isoleucine, methionine, or tryptophan; and amino acid g is selected from histidine, asparagine, or serine;

wherein CDR2b comprises the amino acid sequence h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x, wherein amino acid h is selected from tryptophan, tyrosine, valine, asparagine, or glutamic acid; amino acid i is selected from isoleucine, phenylalanine, or valine; amino acid j is selected from asparagine, serine, tryptophan, or tyrosine; amino acid k is selected from proline, serine, tyrosine, or histidine; amino acid l is selected from asparagine, serine, or aspartic acid; amino acid m is selected from serine or glycine; amino acid n is selected from glycine or serine, or is not present; amino acid o is selected from glycine, threonine, aspartic acid, serine, isoleucine, or asparagine; amino acid p is selected from threonine, isoleucine, or lysine; amino acid q is selected from asparagine or tyrosine; amino acid r is selected from tyrosine or histidine; amino acid s is selected from alanine or asparagine; amino acid t is selected from glutamine, aspartic acid, or proline; amino acid u is selected from lysine or serine; amino acid v is selected from phenylalanine, valine, or leucine; amino acid w is selected from glutamine or lysine, and amino acid x is selected from glycine or serine;

wherein CDR3b comprises the amino acid sequence y z a′ b′ c′ d′ e′ f′ g′ h′ i′ j′ k′ l′ m′ n′ o′ p′ q′ r′, wherein amino acid y is selected from glutamic acid, aspartic acid, serine, or glycine, or is not present; amino acid z is selected from leucine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, histidine, proline, or glycine, or is not present; amino acid a′ is selected from glutamic acid, tyrosine, or leucine, or is not present; amino acid b′ is selected from leucine, asparagine, glycine, histidine, tyrosine, or tryptophan, or is not present; amino acid c′ is selected from arginine, serine, glutamic acid, tyrosine, glycine, or phenylalanine, or is not present; amino acid d′ is glycine or is not present; amino acid e′ is selected from tryptophan or tyrosine, or is not present; amino acid f′ is aspartic acid or is not present; amino acid g′ is selected from serine or arginine, or is not present; amino acid h′ is serine or is not present; amino acid i′ is selected from glycine or tyrosine, or is not present; amino acid j′ is selected from tyrosine, glutamic acid, or aspartic acid, or is not present; amino acid k′ is selected from tyrosine, phenylalanine, or aspartic acid, or is not present; amino acid l′ is selected from tyrosine, aspartic acid, histidine, or tryptophan, or is not present; amino acid m′ is selected from tyrosine, glycine, aspartic acid, proline, or serine, or is not present; amino acid n′ is selected from glycine, valine, tyrosine, or aspartic acid, or is not present; amino acid o′ is selected from leucine, alanine, glycine, or tyrosine, or is not present; amino acid p′ is selected from methionine, phenylalanine, or tyrosine; amino acid q′ is aspartic acid, and amino acid r′ is selected from valine, tyrosine, isoleucine, or proline; and

wherein the polypeptide, in association with an antibody light chain, is capable of binding HGF.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides an isolated cell line that produces an antibody selected from 1.24.1, 1.29.1, 1.60.1, 1.61.3, 1.74.3, 1.75.1, 2.4.4, 2.12.1, 2.40.1, and 3.10.1.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides a method of inhibiting binding of HGF to Met comprising administering a specific binding agent to HGF.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides a polypeptide comprising at least one amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 164 and 165.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides a polypeptide consisting essentially of at least one amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 164 and 165.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides a specific binding agent which is capable of binding at least one amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 164 and 165.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides an antibody or antigen binding domain which is capable of binding at least one amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 164 and 165.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides a method of obtaining an antibody capable of binding hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) comprising administering at least one polypeptide selected from SEQ ID NO: 164 and 165 to an animal and obtaining an antibody capable of binding HGF from the animal.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides a method of decreasing or preventing binding of a specific binding agent to hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) by administering a polypeptide comprising at least one amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 164 and 165.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides a method of decreasing or preventing binding of a specific binding agent to hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) by administering a polypeptide consisting of at least one amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 164 and 165.

Other embodiments of this invention will be readily apparent from the disclosure provided herewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A shows a dendrogram of kappa light chains of certain antibodies to HGF showing their germ line relationships. Germ line gene identifications are indicated to the right of the antibody designation. FIG. 1B shows an amino acid sequence alignment of kappa light chain variable regions of certain antibodies to HGF. Germ line gene identifications are indicated at the left. The CDR regions are indicated as bold lines above the aligned sequences.

FIG. 2A shows a dendrogram of gamma heavy chains of certain antibodies to HGF showing their germ line relationships. Germ line gene identifications are indicated to the right of the antibody designation. FIG. 2B shows an amino acid sequence alignment of gamma heavy chain variable regions of certain antibodies to HGF. Germ line gene identifications are indicated at the left. The CDR regions are indicated as bold lines above the aligned sequences.

FIGS. 3A to 3E show DNA sequences encoding variable regions from both the light and the heavy chains of certain antibodies to HGF. Antibody name, germ line designation, and sequence ID are indicated for each sequence. The natural signal peptide sequence is underlined. The DNA sequences of the human Kappa, IgG1, and IgG2 constant regions are also shown.

FIGS. 4A to 4C show amino acid sequences of variable regions of the light and the heavy chains of certain antibodies to HGF. Antibody name, germ-line designation, and sequence ID are indicated for each sequence. The natural signal peptide sequence is underlined. The amino acid sequences of the human Kappa, IgG1, and IgG2 constant regions are also shown.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show amino acid sequences of complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of the light and heavy chains of certain antibodies to HGF. Antibody name and sequence ID are indicated for each sequence. FIG. 5A shows amino acid sequences of CDRs of the light chain of certain antibodies to HGF. FIG. 5B show amino acid sequence of CDRs of the heavy chain of certain antibodies to HGF.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show results of K_(D) determination of certain antibodies to HGF, discussed in Example 8. FIG. 6A shows data from a kinetic method. FIG. 6B shows data from an equilibrium/solution method.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show autoradiograms from Western blots discussed in Example 8 testing the ability of certain antibodies to bind to human HGF and to mouse HGF. Panels on the left (lanes 1-4) show autoradiograms from experiments performed under non-reducing conditions. Panels on the right (lanes 5-8) show autoradiograms from experiments performed under reducing conditions.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter (FACS) data from experiments discussed in Example 8, assessing binding of certain antibodies to certain targets. The top of FIG. 8A shows FACS data from control samples lacking a specific binding agent. Panels 1 and 2 (from the left) show data from control samples lacking target incubated with FITC and PE, respectively. Panels 3 and 4 show data from control samples comprising FITC and PE labeled d5 HGF, respectively, but lacking a specific binding agent. Panels below the solid line on FIG. 8A and panels on FIG. 8B show FACS data from experiments testing five antibodies to HGF. For each antibody, the first panel (from the left) shows data from control samples lacking target, the second through fourth panels show data from experiments in which the target was: human HGF, mouse HGF, and human d5 HGF, respectively.

FIG. 9A shows a schematic of a plasmid encoding avidin adjacent to a multiple cloning site which was used to generate fusion proteins comprising avidin and target protein as is discussed in Example 8. FIG. 9B shows the sequence of chicken avidin.

FIGS. 10A and 10B show schematic representations of certain fusion proteins and results from binding assays, discussed in Examples 8C and 8D, using those fusion proteins. FIG. 10C shows a schematic representation of certain fusion proteins having point mutations, insertions, or deletions. FIG. 10D shows the amino acid sequences of human and mouse HGF in the region of amino acids 451-731 (SEQ ID NO. 120 and 121, respectively), with the corresponding consensus sequence indicated (SEQ ID NO. 122).

FIGS. 11A and 11B show HPLC analyses of protease protection experiments on human HGF as discussed in Example 8E. FIG. 11C shows the amino acid sequences of peptides protected from proteolytic digestion by binding to antibody 2.12.1 in that work.

FIGS. 12A-12D show results from competitive binding assays discussed in Example 8.

FIG. 13 shows IC50 data from neutralization assays discussed in Example 9.

FIG. 14 shows data from neutralization assays in PC3 cells discussed in Example 10.

FIG. 15 shows data from inhibition assays in U-87 cells discussed in Example 10.

FIGS. 16A through 16F show results from experiments discussed in Example 11 assessing the effect of certain antibodies to HGF on U-87 MG xenograft tumors in mice. FIG. 16A shows dose-response data for antibody 2.4.4 on U-87 MG xenograft tumor growth in the minimal residual disease model. FIG. 16B shows the dose-response data for antibody 2.4.4 on U-87 xenograft tumor growth in an established disease model. FIGS. 16C, 16D, 16E, and 16F show data from head-to-head experiments testing antibodies to HGF in a U-87 minimal residual disease model (16C and 16D) or in a U-87 established disease model (16E and 16F).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. In this application, the use of the singular includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise. In this application, the use of “or” means “and/or” unless stated otherwise. Furthermore, the use of the term “including”, as well as other forms, such as “includes” and “included”, is not limiting. Also, terms such as “element” or “component” encompass both elements and components comprising one unit and elements and components that comprise more than one subunit unless specifically stated otherwise. Also the use of the term “portion” may include part of a moiety or the entire moiety.

The section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described. All documents, or portions of documents, cited in this application, including but not limited to patents, patent applications, articles, books, and treatises, are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety for any purpose.

DEFINITIONS

Standard techniques may be used for recombinant DNA, oligonucleotide synthesis, and tissue culture and transformation (e.g., electroporation, lipofection). Enzymatic reactions and purification techniques may be performed according to manufacturer's specifications or as commonly accomplished in the art or as described herein. The foregoing techniques and procedures may be generally performed according to conventional methods well known in the art and as described in various general and more specific references that are cited and discussed throughout the present specification. See, e.g., Sambrook et al. Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (2d ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989)), which is incorporated herein by reference for any purpose. Unless specific definitions are provided, the nomenclatures utilized in connection with, and the laboratory procedures and techniques of, analytical chemistry, synthetic organic chemistry, and medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry described herein are those well known and commonly used in the art. Standard techniques may be used for chemical syntheses, chemical analyses, pharmaceutical preparation, formulation, and delivery, and treatment of patients.

As utilized in accordance with the present disclosure, the following terms, unless otherwise indicated, shall be understood to have the following meanings:

The term “hepatocyte growth factor” or “HGF” refers to a polypeptide as set forth in Nakamura et al., Nature 342: 440-443 (1989) or fragments thereof, as well as related polypeptides, which include, but are not limited to, allelic variants, splice variants, derivative variants, substitution variants, deletion variants, and/or insertion variants, fusion polypeptides, and interspecies homologs. In certain embodiments, an HGF polypeptide includes terminal residues, such as, but not limited to, leader sequence residues, targeting residues, amino terminal methionine residues, lysine residues, tag residues and/or fusion protein residues.

The term “specific binding agent” refers to a natural or non-natural molecule that specifically binds to a target. Examples of specific binding agents include, but are not limited to, proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids, and small molecule compounds. In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent is an antibody. In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent is an antigen binding region.

The term “specific binding agent to HGF” refers to a specific binding agent that specifically binds any portion of HGF. In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent to HGF is an antibody to HGF. In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent is an antigen binding region.

The term “polyclonal antibody” refers to a heterogeneous mixture of antibodies that bind to different epitopes of the same antigen.

The term “monoclonal antibodies” refers to a collection of antibodies encoded by the same nucleic acid molecule. In certain embodiments, monoclonal antibodies are produced by a single hybridoma or other cell line, or by a transgenic mammal. Monoclonal antibodies typically recognize the same epitope. The term “monoclonal” is not limited to any particular method for making an antibody.

The term “chimeric antibody” refers to an antibody in which a portion of the antibody is homologous to a sequence of a particular species or a particular antibody class, while another portion of the antibody is homologous to a sequence of a different species or antibody class. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567 and Morrison et al., Proc Natl Aced Sci (USA), 81:6851-6855 (1985).

The term “CDR grafted antibody” refers to an antibody in which the CDR from one antibody is inserted into the framework of another antibody. In certain embodiments, the antibody from which the CDR is derived and the antibody from which the framework is derived are of different species. In certain embodiments, the antibody from which the CDR is derived and the antibody from which the framework is derived are of different isotypes.

The term “multi-specific antibody” refers to an antibody wherein two or more variable regions bind to different epitopes. The epitopes may be on the same or different targets. In certain embodiments, a multi-specific antibody is a “bi-specific antibody,” which recognizes two different epitopes on the same or different antigens.

The term “catalytic antibody” refers to an antibody in which one or more catalytic moieties is attached. In certain embodiments, a catalytic antibody is a cytotoxic antibody, which comprise a cytotoxic moiety.

The term “humanized antibody” refers to an antibody in which all or part of an antibody framework region is derived from a human, but all or part of one or more CDR regions is derived from another species, for example a mouse.

The term “fully human antibody” refers to an antibody in which both the CDR and the framework comprise substantially human sequences. In certain embodiments, fully human antibodies are produced in non-human mammals, including, but not limited to, mice, rats, and lagomorphs. In certain embodiments, fully human antibodies are produced in hybridoma cells. In certain embodiments, fully human antibodies are produced recombinantly.

The term “anti-idiotype antibody” refers to an antibody that specifically binds to another antibody.

The term “specifically binds” refers to the ability of a specific binding agent to bind to a target with greater affinity than it binds to a non-target. In certain embodiments, specific binding refers to binding for a target with an affinity that is at least 10, 50, 100, 250, 500, or 1000 times greater than the affinity for a non-target. In certain embodiments, affinity is determined by an affinity ELISA assay. In certain embodiments, affinity is determined by a BIAcore assay. In certain embodiments, affinity is determined by a kinetic method. In certain embodiments, affinity is determined by an equilibrium/solution method.

The term “epitope” refers to a portion of a molecule capable of being bound by a specific binding agent. In certain embodiments, epitopes typically comprise chemically active surface groupings of molecules, such as, for example, amino acids or carbohydrate side chains, and have specific three-dimensional structural characteristics as well as specific charge characteristics. Epitopes may be contiguous or non-contiguous. In certain embodiments, epitopes may be mimetic in that they comprise a three dimensional structure that is similar to an epitope used to generate the antibody, yet comprise none or only some of the amino acid residues found in that epitope used to generate the antibody.

The term “inhibiting and/or neutralizing epitope” refers to an epitope, which when bound by a specific binding agent results in a decrease in a biological activity in vivo, in vitro, and/or in situ. In certain embodiments, a neutralizing epitope is located on or is associated with a biologically active region of a target.

The term “activating epitope” refers to an epitope, which when bound by a specific binding agent results in activation or maintenance of a biological activity in vivo, in vitro, and/or in situ. In certain embodiments, an activating epitope is located on or is associated with a biologically active region of a target.

The term “isolated polynucleotide” as used herein means a polynucleotide of genomic, cDNA, or synthetic origin or some combination thereof, which by virtue of its origin the “isolated polynucleotide” (1) is not associated with all or a portion of a polynucleotide in which the “isolated polynucleotide” is found in nature, (2) is linked to a polynucleotide which it is not linked to in nature, or (3) does not occur in nature as part of a larger sequence.

The term “isolated protein” referred to herein means a protein encoded by cDNA, recombinant RNA, or synthetic origin or some combination thereof, which (1) is free of at least some proteins with which it would normally be found, (2) is essentially free of other proteins from the same source, e.g., from the same species, (3) is expressed by a cell from a different species, or (4) does not occur in nature.

The term “polypeptide” is used herein as a generic term to refer to native proteins, or modifications of such proteins that have deletions, additions, and/or substitutions of one or more amino acids of the native sequence. In certain embodiments, polypeptide have deletions, additions, and/or substitutions of at least one but not more than 50, 30, 20, 15, 10, 8, 5, or 3 amino acids of the native sequence.

The term “naturally-occurring” as used herein as applied to an object refers to the fact that an object can be found in nature. For example, a polypeptide or polynucleotide sequence that is present in an organism (including viruses) that can be isolated from a source in nature and which has not been intentionally modified by man in the laboratory or otherwise is naturally-occurring.

The term “operably linked” as used herein refers to components that are in a relationship permitting them to function in their intended manner. For example, a control sequence “operably linked” to a coding sequence is ligated in such a way that expression of the coding sequence is achieved under conditions compatible with the control sequences.

The term “control sequence” as used herein refers to polynucleotide sequences which may effect the expression and processing of coding sequences to which they are ligated. The nature of such control sequences may differ depending upon the host organism. According to certain embodiments, control sequences for prokaryotes may include promoter, ribosomal binding site, and transcription termination sequence. According to certain embodiments, control sequences for eukaryotes may include promoters, one or more enhancers and transcription termination sequence. In certain embodiments, “control sequences” can include leader sequences and/or fusion partner sequences.

The term “polynucleotide” as referred to herein means a polymeric form of nucleotides of at least 10 bases in length. In certain embodiments, the bases may be ribonucleotides or deoxyribonucleotides or a modified form of either type of nucleotide. The term includes single and double stranded forms of DNA.

The term “oligonucleotide” referred to herein includes naturally occurring, and modified nucleotides linked together by naturally occurring, and/or non-naturally occurring oligonucleotide linkages. Oligonucleotides are a polynucleotide subset generally comprising a length of 200 bases or fewer. In certain embodiments, oligonucleotides are 10 to 60 bases in length. In certain embodiments, oligonucleotides are 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 to 40 bases in length. Oligonucleotides may be single stranded or double stranded, e.g. for use in the construction of a gene mutant. Oligonucleotides may be sense or antisense oligonucleotides.

The term “naturally occurring nucleotides” includes deoxyribonucleotides and ribonucleotides. The term “modified nucleotides” includes nucleotides with modified or substituted sugar groups and the like. The term “oligonucleotide linkages” includes oligonucleotides linkages such as phosphorothioate, phosphorodithioate, phosphoroselenoate, phosphorodiselenoate, phosphoroanilothioate, phoshoraniladate, phosphoroamidate, and the like. See, e.g., LaPlanche et al. Nucl. Acids Res. 14:9081 (1986); Stec et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 106:6077 (1984); Stein et al. Nucl. Acids Res. 16:3209 (1988); Zon et al. Anti-Cancer Drug Design 6:539 (1991); Zon et al. Oligonucleotides and Analogues: A Practical Approach, pp. 87-108 (F. Eckstein, Ed., Oxford University Press, Oxford England (1991)); Stec et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,510; Uhlmann and Peyman Chemical Reviews 90:543 (1990), the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference for any purpose. In certain embodiments, an oligonucleotide can include a label for detection.

Identity and similarity of related polypeptides can be readily calculated by known methods. Such methods include, but are not limited to, those described in Computational Molecular Biology, Lesk, A. M., ed., Oxford University Press, New York (1988); Biocomputing: Informatics and Genome Projects, Smith, D. W., ed., Academic Press, New York (1993); Computer Analysis of Sequence Data, Part 1, Griffin, A.M., and Griffin, H. G., eds., Humana Press, New Jersey (1994); Sequence Analysis in Molecular Biology, von Heinje, G., Academic Press (1987); Sequence Analysis Primer, Gribskov, M. and Devereux, J., eds., M. Stockton Press, New York (1991); and Carillo et al., SIAM J. Applied Math., 48:1073 (1988).

Certain methods to determine identity are designed to give the largest match between the sequences tested. Methods to determine identity are described in publicly available computer programs. Computer program methods to determine identity between two sequences include, but are not limited to, the GCG program package, including GAP (Devereux et al., Nucl. Acid. Res., 12:387 (1984); Genetics Computer Group, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., BLASTP, BLASTN, and FASTA (Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol., 215:403-410 (1990)). The BLASTX program is publicly available from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and other sources (BLAST Manual, Altschul et al. NCB/NLM/NIH Bethesda, Md. 20894; Altschul et al., supra (1990)). The well-known Smith Waterman algorithm may also be used to determine identity.

Certain alignment schemes for aligning two amino acid sequences may result in the matching of only a short region of the two sequences, and this small aligned region may have very high sequence identity even though there is no significant relationship between the two full-length sequences. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, the selected alignment method (GAP program) will result in an alignment that spans at least 50 contiguous amino acids of the target polypeptide.

For example, using the computer algorithm GAP (Genetics Computer Group, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.), two polypeptides for which the percent sequence identity is to be determined are aligned for optimal matching of their respective amino acids (the “matched span”, as determined by the algorithm). In certain embodiments, a gap opening penalty (which is calculated as 3× the average diagonal; the “average diagonal” is the average of the diagonal of the comparison matrix being used; the “diagonal” is the score or number assigned to each perfect amino acid match by the particular comparison matrix) and a gap extension penalty (which is usually 1/10 times the gap opening penalty), as well as a comparison matrix such as PAM 250 or BLOSUM 62 are used in conjunction with the algorithm. In certain embodiments, a standard comparison matrix (see Dayhoff et al., Atlas of Protein Sequence and Structure, 5(3)(1978) for the PAM 250 comparison matrix; Henikoff et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89:10915-10919 (1992) for the BLOSUM 62 comparison matrix) is also used by the algorithm.

In certain embodiments, the parameters for a polypeptide sequence comparison include the following:

Algorithm: Needleman et al., J. Mol. Biol., 48:443-453 (1970);

Comparison matrix: BLOSUM 62 from Henikoff et al., supra (1992);

Gap Penalty: 12

Gap Length Penalty: 4

Threshold of Similarity: 0

The GAP program may be useful with the above parameters. In certain embodiments, the aforementioned parameters are the default parameters for polypeptide comparisons (along with no penalty for end gaps) using the GAP algorithm.

In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent comprises a heavy chain comprising a variable region comprising an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, and 43. In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent comprises a heavy chain comprising a variable region comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, and 43. In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent comprises a heavy chain comprising a variable region comprising an amino acid sequence at least 99% identical to an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, and 43.

In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent comprises a light chain comprising a variable region comprising an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, and 42. In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent comprises a light chain comprising a variable region comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, and 42. In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent comprises a light chain comprising a variable region comprising an amino acid sequence at least 99% identical to an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, and 42.

As used herein, the twenty conventional amino acids and their abbreviations follow conventional usage. See Immunology—A Synthesis (2nd Edition, E. S. Golub and D. R. Gren, Eds., Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, Mass. (1991)), which is incorporated herein by reference for any purpose. Stereoisomers (e.g., D-amino acids) of the twenty conventional amino acids, unnatural amino acids such as α-, α-disubstituted amino acids, N-alkyl amino acids, lactic acid, and other unconventional amino acids may also be suitable components for polypeptides of the present invention. Examples of unconventional amino acids include: 4-hydroxyproline, δ-carboxyglutamate, ε-N,N,N-trimethyllysine, ε-N-acetyllysine, O-phosphoserine, N-acetylserine, N-formylmethionine, 3-methylhistidine, 5-hydroxylysine, σ-N-methylarginine, and other similar amino acids and imino acids (e.g., 4-hydroxyproline). In the polypeptide notation used herein, the left-hand direction is the amino terminal direction and the right-hand direction is the carboxy-terminal direction, in accordance with standard usage and convention.

Similarly, unless specified otherwise, the left-hand end of single-stranded polynucleotide sequences is the 5′ end; the left-hand direction of double-stranded polynucleotide sequences is referred to as the 5′ direction. The direction of 5′ to 3′ addition of nascent RNA transcripts is referred to as the transcription direction; sequence regions on the DNA strand having the same sequence as the RNA and which are 5′ to the 5′ end of the RNA transcript are referred to as “upstream sequences”; sequence regions on the DNA strand having the same sequence as the RNA and which are 3′ to the 3′ end of the RNA transcript are referred to as “downstream sequences.”

Conservative amino acid substitutions may encompass non-naturally occurring amino acid residues, which are typically incorporated by chemical peptide synthesis rather than by synthesis in biological systems. These include peptidomimetics and other reversed or inverted forms of amino acid moieties.

Naturally occurring residues may be divided into classes based on common side chain properties:

1) hydrophobic: norleucine, Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile;

2) neutral hydrophilic: Cys, Ser, Thr, Asn, Gin;

3) acidic: Asp, Glu;

4) basic: His, Lys, Arg;

5) residues that influence chain orientation: Gly, Pro; and

6) aromatic: Trp, Tyr, Phe.

For example, non-conservative substitutions may involve the exchange of a member of one of these classes for a member from another class. Such substituted residues may be introduced into regions of the human antibody that are homologous with non-human antibodies, or into the non-homologous regions of the molecule.

In making such changes, according to certain embodiments, the hydropathic index of amino acids may be considered. Each amino acid has been assigned a hydropathic index on the basis of its hydrophobicity and charge characteristics. They are: isoleucine (+4.5); valine (+4.2); leucine (+3.8); phenylalanine (+2.8); cysteine/cystine (+2.5); methionine (+1.9); alanine (+1.8); glycine (−0.4); threonine (−0.7); serine (−0.8); tryptophan (−0.9); tyrosine (−1.3); proline (−1.6); histidine (−3.2); glutamate (−3.5); glutamine (−3.5); aspartate (−3.5); asparagine (−3.5); lysine (−3.9); and arginine (−4.5).

The importance of the hydropathic amino acid index in conferring interactive biological function on a protein is understood in the art. Kyte et al., J. Mol. Biol., 157:105-131 (1982). It is known that certain amino acids may be substituted for other amino acids having a similar hydropathic index or score and still retain a similar biological activity. In making changes based upon the hydropathic index, in certain embodiments, the substitution of amino acids whose hydropathic indices are within ±2 is included. In certain embodiments, those which are within ±1 are included, and in certain embodiments, those within ±0.5 are included.

It is also understood in the art that the substitution of like amino acids can be made effectively on the basis of hydrophilicity, particularly where the biologically functional protein or peptide thereby created is intended for use in immunological embodiments, as in the present case. In certain embodiments, the greatest local average hydrophilicity of a protein, as governed by the hydrophilicity of its adjacent amino acids, correlates with its immunogenicity and antigenicity, i.e., with a biological property of the protein.

The following hydrophilicity values have been assigned to these amino acid residues: arginine (+3.0); lysine (+3.0); aspartate (+3.0±1); glutamate (+3.0±1); serine (+0.3); asparagine (+0.2); glutamine (+0.2); glycine (0); threonine (−0.4); proline (−0.5±1); alanine (−0.5); histidine (−0.5); cysteine (−1.0); methionine (−1.3); valine (−1.5); leucine (−1.8); isoleucine (−1.8); tyrosine (−2.3); phenylalanine (−2.5) and tryptophan (−3.4). In making changes based upon similar hydrophilicity values, in certain embodiments, the substitution of amino acids whose hydrophilicity values are within ±2 is included, in certain embodiments, those which are within ±1 are included, and in certain embodiments, those within ±0.5 are included. One may also identify epitopes from primary amino acid sequences on the basis of hydrophilicity. These regions are also referred to as “epitopic core regions.”

Exemplary amino acid substitutions are set forth in Table I.

TABLE I Amino Acid Substitutions Original Exemplary Preferred Residues Substitutions Substitutions Ala Val, Leu, Ile Val Arg Lys, Gln, Asn Lys Asn Gln Gln Asp Glu Glu Cys Ser, Ala Ser Gln Asn Asn Glu Asp Asp Gly Pro, Ala Ala His Asn, Gln, Lys, Arg Arg Ile Leu, Val, Met, Ala, Leu Phe, Norleucine Leu Norleucine, Ile, Ile Val, Met, Ala, Phe Lys Arg, 1,4 Diamino- Arg butyric Acid, Gln, Asn Met Leu, Phe, Ile Leu Phe Leu, Val, Ile, Ala, Leu Tyr Pro Ala Gly Ser Thr, Ala, Cys Thr Thr Ser Ser Trp Tyr, Phe Tyr Tyr Trp, Phe, Thr, Ser Phe Val Ile, Met, Leu, Phe, Leu Ala, Norleucine

A skilled artisan will be able to determine suitable variants of the polypeptide as set forth herein using well-known techniques. In certain embodiments, one skilled in the art may identify suitable areas of the molecule that may be changed without destroying activity by targeting regions not believed to be important for activity. In certain embodiments, one can identify residues and portions of the molecules that are conserved among similar polypeptides. In certain embodiments, even areas that may be important for biological activity or for structure may be subject to conservative amino acid substitutions without destroying the biological activity or without adversely affecting the polypeptide structure.

Additionally, one skilled in the art can review structure-function studies identifying residues in similar polypeptides that are important for activity or structure. In view of such a comparison, one can predict the importance of amino acid residues in a protein that correspond to amino acid residues which are important for activity or structure in similar proteins. One skilled in the art may opt for chemically similar amino acid substitutions for such predicted important amino acid residues.

One skilled in the art can also analyze the three-dimensional structure and amino acid sequence in relation to that structure in similar polypeptides. In view of such information, one skilled in the art may predict the alignment of amino acid residues of an antibody with respect to its three dimensional structure. In certain embodiments, one skilled in the art may choose not to make radical changes to amino acid residues predicted to be on the surface of the protein, since such residues may be involved in important interactions with other molecules. Moreover, one skilled in the art may generate test variants containing a single amino acid substitution at each desired amino acid residue. The variants can then be screened using activity assays known to those skilled in the art. Such variants could be used to gather information about suitable variants. For example, if one discovered that a change to a particular amino acid residue resulted in destroyed, undesirably reduced, or unsuitable activity, variants with such a change may be avoided. In other words, based on information gathered from such routine experiments, one skilled in the art can readily determine the amino acids where further substitutions should be avoided either alone or in combination with other mutations.

A number of scientific publications have been devoted to the prediction of secondary structure. See Moult J., Curr. Op. in Biotech., 7(4):422-427 (1996), Chou et al., Biochemistry, 13(2):222-245 (1974); Chou et al., Biochemistry, 113(2):211-222 (1974); Chou et al., Adv. Enzymol. Relat. Areas Mol. Biol., 47:45-148 (1978); Chou et al., Ann. Rev. Biochem., 47:251-276 and Chou et al., Biophys. J., 26:367-384 (1979). Moreover, computer programs are currently available to assist with predicting secondary structure. One method of predicting secondary structure is based upon homology modeling. For example, two polypeptides or proteins which have a sequence identity of greater than 30%, or similarity greater than 40% often have similar structural topologies. The recent growth of the protein structural database (PDB) has provided enhanced predictability of secondary structure, including the potential number of folds within a polypeptide's or protein's structure. See Holm et al., Nucl. Acid. Res., 27(1):244-247 (1999). It has been suggested (Brenner et al., Curr. Op. Struct. Biol., 7(3):369-376 (1997)) that there are a limited number of folds in a given polypeptide or protein and that once a critical number of structures have been resolved, structural prediction will become dramatically more accurate.

Additional methods of predicting secondary structure include “threading” (Jones, D., Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol., 7(3):377-87 (1997); Sippl et al., Structure, 4(1):15-19 (1996)), “profile analysis” (Bowie et al., Science, 253:164-170 (1991); Gribskov et al., Meth. Enzym., 183:146-159 (1990); Gribskov et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 84(13):4355-4358 (1987)), and “evolutionary linkage” (See Holm, supra (1999), and Brenner, supra (1997)).

In certain embodiments, specific binding agent variants include glycosylation variants wherein the number and/or type of glycosylation site has been altered compared to the amino acid sequences of a parent polypeptide. In certain embodiments, protein variants comprise a greater or a lesser number of N-linked glycosylation sites than the native protein. An N-linked glycosylation site is characterized by the sequence: Asn-X-Ser or Asn-X-Thr, wherein the amino acid residue designated as X may be any amino acid residue except proline. The substitution of amino acid residues to create this sequence provides a potential new site for the addition of an N-linked carbohydrate chain. Alternatively, substitutions which eliminate this sequence will remove an existing N-linked carbohydrate chain. Also provided is a rearrangement of N-linked carbohydrate chains wherein one or more N-linked glycosylation sites (typically those that are naturally occurring) are eliminated and one or more new N-linked sites are created. Additional preferred antibody variants include cysteine variants wherein one or more cysteine residues are deleted from or substituted for another amino acid (e.g., serine) as compared to the parent amino acid sequence. Cysteine variants may be useful when antibodies must be refolded into a biologically active conformation such as after the isolation of insoluble inclusion bodies. Cysteine variants generally have fewer cysteine residues than the native protein, and typically have an even number to minimize interactions resulting from unpaired cysteines.

According to certain embodiments, amino acid substitutions are those which: (1) reduce susceptibility to proteolysis, (2) reduce susceptibility to oxidation, (3) alter binding affinity for forming protein complexes, (4) alter binding affinities, and/or (4) confer or modify other physiocochemical or functional properties on such polypeptides. According to certain embodiments, single or multiple amino acid substitutions (in certain embodiments, conservative amino acid substitutions) may be made in the naturally-occurring sequence (in certain embodiments, in the portion of the polypeptide outside the domain(s) forming intermolecular contacts). In certain embodiments, a conservative amino acid substitution typically may not substantially change the structural characteristics of the parent sequence (e.g., a replacement amino acid should not tend to break a helix that occurs in the parent sequence, or disrupt other types of secondary structure that characterizes the parent sequence). Examples of art-recognized polypeptide secondary and tertiary structures are described in Proteins, Structures and Molecular Principles (Creighton, Ed., W.H. Freeman and Company, New York (1984)); Introduction to Protein Structure (C. Branden and J. Tooze, eds., Garland Publishing, New York, N.Y. (1991)); and Thornton et at. Nature 354:105 (1991), which are each incorporated herein by reference.

The term “derivative” refers to a molecule that includes a chemical modification other than an insertion, deletion, or substitution of amino acids. In certain embodiments, derivatives comprise covalent modifications, including, but not limited to, chemical bonding with polymers, lipids, or other organic or inorganic moieties. In certain embodiments, a chemically modified specific binding agent may have greater circulating half-life than a specific binding agent that is not chemically modified. In certain embodiments, a chemically modified specific binding agent may have improved targeting capacity for desired cells, tissues, and/or organs. In certain embodiments, a derivative specific binding agent is covalently modified to include one or more water soluble polymer attachments, including, but not limited to, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene glycol, or polypropylene glycol. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,640,835, 4,496,689, 4,301,144, 4,670,417, 4,791,192 and 4,179,337. In certain embodiments, a derivative specific binding agent comprises one or more polymer, including, but not limited to, monomethoxy-polyethylene glycol, dextran, cellulose, or other carbohydrate based polymers, poly-(N-vinyl pyrrolidone)-polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol homopolymers, a polypropylene oxide/ethylene oxide co-polymer, polyoxyethylated polyols (e.g., glycerol) and polyvinyl alcohol, as well as mixtures of such polymers.

In certain embodiments, a derivative is covalently modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) subunits. In certain embodiments, one or more water-soluble polymer is bonded at one or more specific position, for example at the amino terminus, of a derivative. In certain embodiments, one or more water-soluble polymer is randomly attached to one or more side chains of a derivative. In certain embodiments, PEG is used to improve the therapeutic capacity for a specific binding agent. In certain embodiments, PEG is used to improve the therapeutic capacity for a humanized antibody. Certain such methods are discussed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,133,426, which is hereby incorporated by reference for any purpose.

The term “polypeptide fragment” as used herein refers to a polypeptide that has an amino-terminal and/or carboxy-terminal deletion. In certain embodiments, fragments are at least 5 to 478 amino acids long. It will be appreciated that in certain embodiments, fragments are at least 5, 6, 8, 10, 14, 20, 50, 70, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, or 450 amino acids long.

Peptide analogs are commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry as non-peptide drugs with properties analogous to those of the template peptide. These types of non-peptide compound are termed “peptide mimetics” or “peptidomimetics”. Fauchere, J. Adv. Drug Res. 15:29 (1986); Veber and Freidinger TINS p. 392 (1985); and Evans et al. J. Med. Chem. 30:1229 (1987), which are incorporated herein by reference for any purpose. Such compounds are often developed with the aid of computerized molecular modeling. Peptide mimetics that are structurally similar to therapeutically useful peptides may be used to produce a similar therapeutic or prophylactic effect. Generally, peptidomimetics are structurally similar to a paradigm polypeptide (i.e., a polypeptide that has a biochemical property or pharmacological activity), such as human antibody, but have one or more peptide linkages optionally replaced by a linkage selected from: —CH₂NH—, —CH₂S—, —CH₂—CH₂—, —CH═CH— (cis and trans), —COCH₂—, —CH(OH)CH₂—, and —CH₂ SO—, by methods well known in the art. Systematic substitution of one or more amino acids of a consensus sequence with a D-amino acid of the same type (e.g., D-lysine in place of L-lysine) may be used in certain embodiments to generate more stable peptides. In addition, constrained peptides comprising a consensus sequence or a substantially identical consensus sequence variation may be generated by methods known in the art (Rizo and Gierasch Ann. Rev. Biochem. 61:387 (1992), incorporated herein by reference for any purpose); for example, by adding internal cysteine residues capable of forming intramolecular disulfide bridges which cyclize the peptide.

The terms “antibody” or “antibody peptide(s)” refer to an intact antibody, or a binding fragment thereof that competes with the intact antibody for specific binding. In certain embodiments, binding fragments are produced by recombinant DNA techniques. In certain embodiments, binding fragments are produced by enzymatic or chemical cleavage of intact antibodies. Binding fragments include, but are not limited to, Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)2, Fv, and single-chain antibodies.

The term “heavy chain” includes any polypeptide having sufficient variable region sequence to confer specificity for a target. The term “light chain” includes any polypeptide having sufficient variable region sequence to confer specificity for a target. A full-length heavy chain includes a variable region domain, V_(H), and three constant region domains, C_(H)1, C_(H)2, and C_(H)3. The V_(H) domain is at the amino-terminus of the polypeptide, and the C_(H)3 domain is at the carboxy-terminus. The term “heavy chain”, as used herein, encompasses a full-length heavy chain and fragments thereof. A full-length light chain includes a variable region domain, V_(L), and a constant region domain, C_(L). Like the heavy chain, the variable region domain of the light chain is at the amino-terminus of the polypeptide. The term “light chain”, as used herein, encompasses a full-length light chain and fragments thereof. A Fab fragment is comprised of one light chain and the C_(H)1 and variable regions of one heavy chain. The heavy chain of a Fab molecule cannot form a disulfide bond with another heavy chain molecule. A Fab′ fragment contains one light chain and one heavy chain that contains more of the constant region, between the C_(H)1 and C_(H)2 domains, such that an interchain disulfide bond can be formed between two heavy chains to form a F(ab′)2 molecule. The Fv region comprises the variable regions from both the heavy and light chains, but lacks the constant regions. Single-chain antibodies are Fv molecules in which the heavy and light chain variable regions have been connected by a flexible linker to form a single polypeptide chain which forms an antigen-binding region. Single chain antibodies are discussed in detail in e.g., WO 88/01649 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,946,778 and 5,260,203.

The term “variable region” or “variable domain” refers to a portion of the light and/or heavy chains of an antibody, typically including approximately the amino-terminal 120 to 130 amino acids in the heavy chain and about 100 to 110 amino terminal amino acids in the light chain. In certain embodiments, variable regions of different antibodies differ extensively in amino acid sequence even among antibodies of the same species. The variable region of an antibody typically determines specificity of a particular antibody for its target The term “immunologically functional immunoglobulin fragment” refers to a polypeptide fragment comprising at least the variable domains of an immunoglobulin heavy chain and an immunoglobulin light chain. In certain embodiments, an immunologically functional immunoglobulin fragment is capable of binding to a ligand, preventing binding of the ligand to its receptor, and thereby interrupting a biological response resulting from ligand binding to the receptor. In certain embodiments, an immunologically functional immunoglobulin fragment is capable of binding to a receptor, preventing binding of the ligand to its receptor, and thereby interrupting a biological response resulting from ligand binding to the receptor. In certain embodiments, an immunologically functional immunoglobulin fragment is capable of binding a receptor and activating or inactivating that receptor.

A bivalent antibody other than a “multispecific” or “multifunctional” antibody, in certain embodiments, typically is understood to have each of its binding sites identical.

A specific binding agent substantially inhibits adhesion of a ligand to a receptor when an excess of specific binding agent reduces the quantity of receptor bound to counterreceptor by at least about 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 85%, or more (as measured in an in vitro competitive binding assay).

The term “target” refers to a molecule or a portion of a molecule capable of being bound by a specific binding agent. In certain embodiments, a target may have one or more epitopes. In certain embodiments, a target is an antigen.

The term “epitope” includes any polypeptide determinant capable of specific binding to an immunoglobulin or T-cell receptor. In certain embodiments, epitope determinants include chemically active surface groupings of molecules such as amino acids, sugar side chains, phosphoryl, or sulfonyl, and, in certain embodiments, may have specific three dimensional structural characteristics, and/or specific charge characteristics. An epitope is a region of an antigen that is bound by an antibody. In certain embodiments, an antibody is said to specifically bind an antigen when it preferentially recognizes its target antigen in a complex mixture of proteins and/or macromolecules. In certain embodiments, an antibody is said to specifically bind an antigen when the dissociation constant is ≦1 μM, in certain embodiments, when the dissociation constant is 100 nM, and in certain embodiments, when the dissociation constant is ≦10 nM.

The term “agent” is used herein to denote a chemical compound, a mixture of chemical compounds, a biological macromolecule, or an extract made from biological materials.

As used herein, the terms “label” or “labeled” refers to incorporation of a detectable marker, e.g., by incorporation of a radiolabeled amino acid or attachment to a polypeptide of biotin moieties that can be detected by marked avidin (e.g., streptavidin containing a fluorescent marker or enzymatic activity that can be detected by optical or colorimetric methods). In certain embodiments, the label or marker can also be therapeutic. Various methods of labeling polypeptides and glycoproteins are known in the art and may be used. Examples of labels for polypeptides include, but are not limited to, the following: radioisotopes or radionuclides (e.g., 3H, 14C, 15N, 35S, 90Y, 99Tc, 111In, 125I, 131I), fluorescent labels (e.g., FITC, rhodamine, lanthanide phosphors), enzymatic labels (e.g., horseradish peroxidase, β-galactosidase, luciferase, alkaline phosphatase), chemiluminescent, biotinyl groups, predetermined polypeptide epitopes recognized by a secondary reporter (e.g., leucine zipper pair sequences, binding sites for secondary antibodies, metal binding domains, epitope tags). In certain embodiments, labels are attached by spacer arms of various lengths to reduce potential steric hindrance.

The term “biological sample”, as used herein, includes, but is not limited to, any quantity of a substance from a living thing or formerly living thing. Such living things include, but are not limited to, humans, mice, monkeys, rats, rabbits, and other animals. Such substances include, but are not limited to, blood, serum, urine, cells, organs, tissues, bone, bone marrow, lymph nodes, and skin.

The term “cancer” includes, but is not limited to solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Exemplary cancers include, but are not limited to, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric carcinoma, glioma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, hereditary and sporadic papillary renal carcinoma, leukemia, lymphoma, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, malignant pleural mesothelioma, melanoma, multiple myeloma, non-small cell lung carcinoma, osteosarcoma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, small cell lung cancer, synovial sarcoma, thyroid carcinoma, and transitional cell carcinoma of urinary bladder.

The term “HGF activity” includes any biological effect of HGF. In certain embodiments, HGF activity is Met-HGF activity. In certain embodiments, HGF activity is Met independent HGF activity.

The term “Met-HGF signaling” includes the interaction of HGF with a Met receptor.

The term “Met-HGF activity” includes any biological activity resulting from Met-HGF signaling. Exemplary activities include, but are not limited to, neural induction, liver regeneration, wound healing, growth, invasion, morphologic differentiation, embryological development, scattering, proliferation, apoptosis, cell motility, metastisis, migration, cell adhesion, integrin clustering, phosphorylation of paxillin, formation of focal adhesions, and cancer resulting from aberrant Met-HGF signaling.

The term “aberrant Met-HGF signaling” includes any circumstance in which Met-HGF signaling fails to stimulate any Met-HGF activity when normally signaling would result in such activity. Aberrant Met-HGF signaling also includes any circumstance in which Met-HGF signaling results in less Met-HGF activity than would occur with normal signaling. Aberrant activity also includes any circumstance in which Met-HGF signaling results in greater Met-HGF activity than would occur with normal signaling. Aberrant Met-HGF signaling can result, for example, in certain cancers.

The term “Met independent HGF activity” refers to any biological activity affected by HGF that does not depend on binding of HGF to a Met receptor. Such activity includes, but is not limited to, biological activity affected by HGF interaction with other receptors and biological activity affected by HGF through other pathways, e.g., Ron or met/ron heterodimers.

The term “aberrant HGF activity” refers to any circumstance in which HGF activity is either higher or lower than it should be. In certain circumstances, aberrant HGF activity results from aberrant HGF signaling. In certain circumstances, aberrant HGF activity results from a concentration of HGF that is higher than it should be. In certain embodiments, aberrant HGF activity results from a concentration of HGF that is lower than it should be.

The term “pharmaceutical agent or drug” as used herein refers to a chemical compound or composition capable of inducing a desired therapeutic effect when properly administered to a patient.

The term “modulator,” as used herein, is a compound that changes or alters the activity or function of a molecule. For example, a modulator may cause an increase or decrease in the magnitude of a certain activity or function of a molecule compared to the magnitude of the activity or function observed in the absence of the modulator. In certain embodiments, a modulator is an inhibitor, which decreases the magnitude of at least one activity or function of a molecule. Certain exemplary activities and functions of a molecule include, but are not limited to, binding affinity, enzymatic activity, and signal transduction. Certain exemplary inhibitors include, but are not limited to, proteins, peptides, antibodies, peptibodies, carbohydrates or small organic molecules. Peptibodies are described in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,660,843 (corresponding to PCT Application No. WO01/83525).

As used herein, “substantially pure” means an object species is the predominant species present (i.e., on a molar basis it is more abundant than any other individual species in the composition). In certain embodiments, a substantially purified fraction is a composition wherein the object species comprises at least about 50 percent (on a molar basis) of all macromolecular species present. In certain embodiments, a substantially pure composition will comprise more than about 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 99% of all macromolar species present in the composition. In certain embodiments, the object species is purified to essential homogeneity (contaminant species cannot be detected in the composition by conventional detection methods) wherein the composition consists essentially of a single macromolecular species.

The term patient includes human and animal subjects.

Certain Exemplary Specific Binding Agents

In certain instances, HGF binds a Met receptor to induce Met phosphorylation. In certain instances, normal HGF-induced Met phosphorylation regulates a variety of cellular processes. In certain instances, aberrant Met-HGF activity correlates with a number of human disease states. For example, in certain instances, too much HGF activity correlates with certain cancers. Therefore, in certain instances, modulating HGF activity may be therapeutically useful. In certain embodiments, specific binding agents to HGF are used to decrease the amount of HGF activity from an abnormally high level. In certain embodiments, decreasing HGF activity from an abnormally high level decreases tumorigenic activity and reduces the severity of cancer. According to certain embodiments, specific binding agents to HGF are used to treat cancer. In certain embodiments, specific binding agents to HGF are used to prevent cancer.

In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent to HGF is used to treat cancers in which HGF activity is normal. In such cancers, for example, reduction of HGF activity to below normal may provide a therapeutic effect.

In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent to HGF is used to modulate at least one Met-HGF activity. In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent to HGF is used to modulate at least one Met independent HGF activity. In certain embodiments, more than one specific binding agent to HGF is used to modulate HGF activity.

In certain embodiments, specific binding agents to HGF are fully human monoclonal antibodies. In certain embodiments, nucleotide sequences encoding, and amino acid sequences comprising, heavy and light chain immunoglobulin molecules, particularly sequences corresponding to the variable regions are provided. In certain embodiments, sequences corresponding to complementarity determining regions (CDR's), specifically from CDR1 through CDR3, are provided. According to certain embodiments, a hybridoma cell line expressing such an immunoglobulin molecule is provided. According to certain embodiments, a hybridoma cell line expressing such a monoclonal antibody is provided. In certain embodiments a hybridoma cell line is selected from at least one of 1.24.1, 1.29.1, 1.60.1, 1.61.3, 1.74.3. 1.75.1, 2.4.4, 2.12.1, 2.40.1, and 3.10.1. In certain embodiments, a purified human monoclonal antibody to human HGF is provided.

The ability to clone and reconstruct megabase sized human loci in yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) and to introduce them into the mouse germline provides an approach to elucidating the functional components of very large or crudely mapped loci as well as generating useful models of human disease. Furthermore, the utilization of such technology for substitution of mouse loci with their human equivalents could provide insights into the expression and regulation of human gene products during development, their communication with other systems, and their involvement in disease induction and progression.

An important practical application of such a strategy is the “humanization” of the mouse humoral immune system. Introduction of human immunoglobulin (Ig) loci into mice in which the endogenous Ig genes have been inactivated offers the opportunity to study the mechanisms underlying programmed expression and assembly of antibodies as well as their role in B cell development. Furthermore, such a strategy may provide a source for production of fully human monoclonal antibodies (Mabs). In certain embodiments, fully human antibodies are expected to minimize the immunogenic and allergic responses intrinsic to mouse or mouse-derivatized Mabs, and thus, in certain embodiments, increase the efficacy and safety of the administered antibodies. In certain embodiments, fully human antibodies may be used in the treatment of chronic or recurring human diseases, such as cancer, malaria, or proliferative diabetic retinopathy, which may involve repeated antibody administrations.

One can engineer mouse strains deficient in mouse antibody production with large fragments of the human Ig loci in anticipation that such mice would produce human antibodies in the absence of mouse antibodies. Large human Ig fragments may preserve the large variable gene diversity as well as the proper regulation of antibody production and expression. By exploiting the mouse machinery for antibody diversification and selection and the lack of immunological tolerance to human proteins, the reproduced human antibody repertoire in these mouse strains may yield high affinity fully human antibodies against any antigen of interest, including human antigens. Using the hybridoma technology, antigen-specific human MAbs with the desired specificity may be produced and selected. Certain exemplary methods are described in WO 98/24893, U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,807, EP 546073B1, and EP 546073A1.

In certain embodiments, one may use constant regions from species other than human along with the human variable region(s).

Naturally Occurring Antibody Structure

Naturally occurring antibody structural units typically comprise a tetramer. Each such tetramer typically is composed of two identical pairs of polypeptide chains, each pair having one full-length “light” (in certain embodiments, about 25 kDa) and one full-length “heavy” chain (in certain embodiments, about 50-70 kDa). The amino-terminal portion of each chain typically includes a variable region of about 100 to 110 or more amino acids that typically is responsible for antigen recognition. The carboxy-terminal portion of each chain typically defines a constant region that may be responsible for effector function. Human light chains are typically classified as kappa and lambda light chains. Heavy chains are typically classified as mu, delta, gamma, alpha, or epsilon, and define the antibody's isotype as IgM, IgD, IgG, IgA, and IgE, respectively. IgG has several subclasses, including, but not limited to, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4. IgM has subclasses including, but not limited to, IgM1 and IgM2. IgA is similarly subdivided into subclasses including, but not limited to, IgA1 and IgA2. Within full-length light and heavy chains, typically, the variable and constant regions are joined by a “J” region of about 12 or more amino acids, with the heavy chain also including a “D” region of about 10 more amino acids. See, e.g., Fundamental Immunology Ch. 7 (Paul, W., ed., 2nd ed. Raven Press, N.Y. (1989)) (incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes). The variable regions of each light/heavy chain pair typically form the antigen binding site.

The variable regions typically exhibit the same general structure of relatively conserved framework regions (FR) joined by three hyper variable regions, also called complementarity determining regions or CDRs. The CDRs from the two chains of each pair typically are aligned by the framework regions, which may enable binding to a specific epitope. From N-terminal to C-terminal, both light and heavy chain variable regions typically comprise the domains FR1, CDR1, FR2, CDR2, FR3, CDR3 and FR4. The assignment of amino acids to each domain is typically in accordance with the definitions of Kabat Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. (1987 and 1991)), or Chothia & Lesk J. Mol. Biol. 196:901-917 (1987); Chothia et al. Nature 342:878-883 (1989).

In certain embodiments, an antibody heavy chain binds to an antigen in the absence of an antibody light chain. In certain embodiments, an antibody light chain binds to an antigen in the absence of an antibody heavy chain. In certain embodiments, an antibody binding region binds to an antigen in the absence of an antibody light chain. In certain embodiments, an antibody binding region binds to an antigen in the absence of an antibody heavy chain. In certain embodiments, an individual variable region specifically binds to an antigen in the absence of other variable regions.

In certain embodiments, definitive delineation of a CDR and identification of residues comprising the binding site of an antibody is accomplished by solving the structure of the antibody and/or solving the structure of the antibody-ligand complex. In certain embodiments, that can be accomplished by any of a variety of techniques known to those skilled in the art, such as X-ray crystallography. In certain embodiments, various methods of analysis can be employed to identify or approximate the CDR regions. Examples of such methods include, but are not limited to, the Kabat definition, the Chothia definition, the AbM definition and the contact definition.

The Kabat definition is a standard for numbering the residues in an antibody and is typically used to identify CDR regions. See, e.g., Johnson and Wu, Nucleic Acids Res, 28: 214-8 (2000). The Chothia definition is similar to the Kabat definition, but the Chothia definition takes into account positions of certain structural loop regions. See, e.g., Chothia et al., J Mol Biol, 196: 901-17 (1986); Chothia et al., Nature, 342: 877-83 (1989). The AbM definition uses an integrated suite of computer programs produced by Oxford Molecular Group that model antibody structure. See, e.g., Martin et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci (USA) 86:9268-9272 (1989); AbM™, a computer program for modeling variable regions of antibodies, Oxford, UK; Oxford Molecular, Ltd. The AbM definition models the tertiary structure of an antibody from primary sequence using a combination of knowledge databases and ab initio methods, such as those described in Samudrala et al., Ab Initio Protein Structure Prediction Using a Combined Hierarchical Approach, PROTEINS, Structure, Function and Genetics Suppl. 3:194-198 (1999). The contact definition is based on an analysis of the available complex crystal structures. See, e.g., MacCallum et al., J Mol Biol, 5:732-45 (1996).

By convention, the CDR regions in the heavy chain are typically referred to as H1, H2, and H3 and are numbered sequentially in the direction from the amino terminus to the carboxy terminus. The CDR regions in the light chain are typically referred to as L1, L2, and L3 and are numbered sequentially in the direction from the amino terminus to the carboxy terminus.

Bispecific or Bifunctional Antibodies

A bispecific or bifunctional antibody typically is an artificial hybrid antibody having two different heavy/light chain pairs and two different binding sites. Bispecific antibodies may be produced by a variety of methods including, but not limited to, fusion of hybridomas or linking of Fab′ fragments. See, e.g., Songsivilai et al., Clin. Exp. Immunol. 79: 315-321 (1990); Kostelny et al., J. Immunol. 148:1547-1553 (1992).

Preparation of Antibodies

According to certain embodiments, certain antibodies specifically binding to HGF are encompassed by the invention. In certain embodiments, antibodies are produced by immunization with an antigen. The term “antigen” refers to a molecule used in an animal to produce antibodies capable of binding to that antigen and/or another target. In certain embodiments, antibodies may be produced by immunization with full-length HGF, a soluble form of HGF, a splice variant form of HGF, or a fragment thereof. In certain embodiments, the antibodies of the invention may be polyclonal or monoclonal, and/or may be recombinant antibodies. In certain embodiments, antibodies of the invention are human antibodies prepared, for example, by immunization of transgenic animals capable of producing human antibodies (see, for example, PCT Published Application No. WO 93/12227).

In certain embodiments, certain strategies can be employed to manipulate inherent properties of an antibody, such as the affinity of an antibody for its target. Such strategies include, but are not limited to, the use of site-specific or random mutagenesis of the polynucleotide molecule encoding an antibody to generate an antibody variant. In certain embodiments, such generation is followed by screening for antibody variants that exhibit the desired change, e.g. increased or decreased affinity.

In certain embodiments, the amino acid residues targeted in mutagenic strategies are those in the CDRs. In certain embodiments, amino acids in the framework regions of the variable domains are targeted. In certain embodiments, such framework regions have been shown to contribute to the target binding properties of certain antibodies. See, e.g., Hudson, Curr Opin Biotech, 9:395-402 (1999) and references therein.

In certain embodiments, smaller and more effectively screened libraries of antibody variants are produced by restricting random or site-directed mutagenesis to hyper-mutation sites in the CDRs, which are sites that correspond to areas prone to mutation during the somatic affinity maturation process. See, e.g., Chowdhury and Pastan, Nature Biotech, 17: 568-572 (1999) and references therein. In certain embodiments, certain types of DNA elements may be used to identify hyper-mutation sites including, but not limited to, certain direct and inverted repeats, certain consensus sequences, certain secondary structures, and certain palindromes. For example, such DNA elements that may be used to identify hyper-mutation sites include, but are not limited to, a tetrabase sequence comprising a purine (A or G), followed by guainine (G), followed by a pyrimidine (C or T), followed by either adenosine or tyrosine (A or T) (i.e., A/G-G-C/T-NT). Another example of a DNA element that may be used to identify hyper-mutation sites is the serine codon; A-G-C/T.

In certain embodiments, antibodies are humanized. In certain embodiments, a humanized antibody is substantially non-immunogenic in humans. In certain embodiments, a humuanized antibody has substantially the same affinity for a target as an antibody from another species from which the humanized antibody is derived. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,101, U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,761; U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,762; U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,089.

In certain embodiments, amino acids of an antibody variable domain that may be modified without diminishing the native affinity of the antigen binding domain while reducing its immunogenicity are identified. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,766,886 and 5,869,619.

In certain embodiments, modification of an antibody by methods known in the art is typically designed to achieve increased binding affinity for a target and/or to reduce immunogenicity of the antibody in the recipient. In certain embodiments, humanized antibodies are modified to eliminate glycosylation sites in order to increase affinity of the antibody for its cognate antigen. See, e.g., Co et al., Mol Immunol 30:1361-1367 (1993). In certain embodiments, techniques such as “reshaping,” “hyperchimerization,” or “veneering/resurfacing” are used to produce humanized antibodies. See, e.g., Vaswami et al., Annals of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunol 81:105 (1998); Roguska et al., Prot Engineer 9:895-904 (1996); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,072,035. In certain such embodiments, such techniques typically reduce antibody immunogenicity by reducing the number of foreign residues, but do not prevent anti-idiotypic and anti-allotypic responses following repeated administration of the antibodies. Certain other methods for reducing immunogenicity are described, e.g., in Gilliland et al., J Immunol 62(6): 3663-71 (1999).

In certain instances, humanizing antibodies results in a loss of antigen binding capacity. In certain embodiments, humanized antibodies are “back mutated.” In certain such embodiments, the humanized antibody is mutated to include one or more of the amino acid residues found in the donor antibody. See, e.g., Saldanha et al., Mol Immunol 36:709-19 (1999).

In certain embodiments the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of the light and heavy chain variable regions of an antibody to HGF may be grafted to framework regions (FRs) from the same, or another, species. In certain embodiments, the CDRs of the light and heavy chain variable regions of an antibody to HGF may be grafted to consensus human FRs. To create consensus human FRs, in certain embodiments, FRs from several human heavy chain or light chain amino acid sequences are aligned to identify a consensus amino acid sequence. In certain embodiments, the FRs of an antibody to HGF heavy chain or light chain are replaced with the FRs from a different heavy chain or light chain. In certain embodiments, rare amino acids in the FRs of the heavy and light chains of an antibody to HGF are not replaced, while the rest of the FR amino acids are replaced. Rare amino acids are specific amino acids that are in positions in which they are not usually found in FRs. In certain embodiments, the grafted variable regions from an antibody to HGF may be used with a constant region that is different from the constant region of an antibody to HGF. In certain embodiments, the grafted variable regions are part of a single chain Fv antibody. CDR grafting is described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,180,370, 6,054,297, 5,693,762, 5,859,205, 5,693,761, 5,565,332, 5,585,089, and 5,530,101, and in Jones et al., Nature 321: 522-525 (1986); Riechmann et al., Nature, 332: 323-327 (1988); Verhoeyen et al., Science 239:1534-1536 (1988), Winter, FEBS Letts 430:92-94 (1998), which are hereby incorporated by reference for any purpose.

In certain embodiments, a phage display technique is used to generate monoclonal antibodies. In certain embodiments, such techniques produce fully human monoclonal antibodies. In certain embodiments, a polynucleotide encoding a single Fab or Fv antibody fragment is expressed on the surface of a phage particle. See, e.g., Hoogenboom et al., J Mol Biol 227: 381 (1991); Marks et al., J Mol Biol 222: 581 (1991); U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,793. In certain embodiments, phage are “screened” to identify those antibody fragments having affinity for target. Thus, certain such processes mimic immune selection through the display of antibody fragment repertoires on the surface of filamentous bacteriophage, and subsequent selection of phage by their binding to target. In certain such procedures, high affinity functional agonistic antibody fragments are isolated. In certain such embodiments, a complete repertoire of human antibody genes is created by cloning naturally rearranged human V genes from peripheral blood lymphocytes. See, e.g., Mullinax et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci (USA) 87: 8095-8099 (1990).

According to certain embodiments, antibodies of the invention are prepared through the utilization of a transgenic mouse that has a substantial portion of the human antibody producing genome inserted but that is rendered deficient in the production of endogenous, murine antibodies. Such mice, then, are capable of producing human immunoglobulin molecules and antibodies and are deficient in the production of murine immunoglobulin molecules and antibodies. Technologies utilized for achieving this result are disclosed in the patents, applications and references disclosed in the specification, herein. In certain embodiments, one may employ methods such as those disclosed in PCT Published Application No. WO 98/24893 or in Mendez et al, Nature Genetics 15:146-156 (1997), which are hereby incorporated by reference for any purpose.

According to certain embodiments, fully human monoclonal antibodies specific for HGF are produced as follows. Transgenic mice containing human immunoglobulin genes are immunized with the antigen of interest, e.g. HGF, lymphatic cells (such as B-cells) from the mice that express antibodies are obtained. Such recovered cells are fused with a myeloid-type cell line to prepare immortal hybridoma cell lines, and such hybridoma cell lines are screened and selected to identify hybridoma cell lines that produce antibodies specific to the antigen of interest. In certain embodiments, the production of a hybridoma cell line that produces antibodies specific to HGF is provided.

In certain embodiments, fully human antibodies are produced by the expression of recombinant DNA in host cells or by expression in hybridoma cells. In certain embodiments, antibodies are produced using the phage display technique described above.

In certain embodiments, fully human antibodies are produced by exposing human splenocytes (B or T cells) to an antigen in vitro, and then reconstituting the exposed cells in an immunocompromised mouse, e.g. SCID or nod/SCID. See, e.g., Brams et al., J Immunol, 160: 2051-2058 (1998); Carballido et al., Nat Med, 6: 103-106 (2000). In certain such approaches, engraftment of human fetal tissue into SCID mice (SCID-hu) results in long-term hematopoiesis and human T-cell development. See, e.g., McCune et al., Science 241:1532-1639 (1988); Ifversen et al., Sem Immunol 8:243-248 (1996). In certain instances, humoral immune response in such chimeric mice is dependent on co-development of human T-cells in the animals. See, e.g., Martensson et al., Immunol 83:1271-179 (1994). In certain approaches, human peripheral blood lymphocytes are transplanted into SCID mice. See, e.g., Mosier et al., Nature 335:256-259 (1988). In certain such embodiments, when such transplanted cells are treated either with a priming agent, such as Staphylococcal Enterotoxin A (SEA), or with anti-human CD40 monoclonal antibodies, higher levels of B cell production is detected. See, e.g., Martensson et al., Immunol 84: 224-230 (1995); Murphy et al., Blood 86:1946-1953 (1995).

In certain embodiments, antibodies of the invention are produced by at least one of the following hybridomas: 1.24.1, 1.29.1, 1.60.1, 1.61.1, 1.74.1, 1.75.1, 2.4.4, 2.12.1, 2.40.1, and 3.10.1. In certain embodiments, specific binding agents bind to HGF with a K_(D) of 10⁻⁸, 10⁻⁹, or 10⁻¹⁰M. In certain embodiments, specific binding agents bind to HGF with a dissociation constant (K_(D)) of between approximately 0.099 and 0.79 nM as measured by the kinetic method (FIG. 6A). In certain embodiments, specific binding agents bind to HGF with a K_(D) of less than 10 pM to approximately 54 pM, as measured by the equilibrium/solution method (FIG. 6B).

In certain embodiments, specific binding agents comprise an immunoglobulin molecule of at least one of the IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, Ig E, IgA, IgD, and IgM isotype. In certain embodiments, specific binding agents comprise a human kappa light chain and/or a human heavy chain. In certain embodiments, the heavy chain is of the IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgE, IgA, IgD, or IgM isotype. In certain embodiments, specific binding agents have been cloned for expression in mammalian cells. In certain embodiments, specific binding agents comprise a constant region other than any of the constant regions of the IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgE, IgA, IgD, and IgM isotype.

In certain embodiments, specific binding agents comprise a human kappa light chain and a human IgG1 heavy chain. In certain embodiments, specific binding agents comprise a human kappa light chain and a human IgG2 heavy chain. In certain embodiments, specific binding agents comprise a human kappa light chain and a human IgG3, IgG4, IgE, IgA, IgD or IgM heavy chain. In certain embodiments, specific binding agents comprise variable regions of antibodies ligated to a constant region that is neither the constant region for the IgG1 isotype, nor the constant region for the IgG2 isotype. In certain embodiments, specific binding agents have been cloned for expression in mammalian cells.

In certain embodiments, conservative modifications to the heavy and light chains of antibodies from at least one of the hybridoma lines: 1.24.1, 1.29.1, 1.60.1, 1.61.1, 1.74.1, 1.75.1, 2.4.4, 2.12.1, 2.40.1, and 3.10.1 (and corresponding modifications to the encoding nucleotides) will produce antibodies to HGF having functional and chemical characteristics similar to those of the antibodies from the hybridoma lines: 1.24.1, 1.29.1, 1.60.1, 1.61.1, 1.74.1, 1.75.1, 2.4.4, 2.12.1, 2.40.1, and 3.10.1. In contrast, in certain embodiments, substantial modifications in the functional and/or chemical characteristics of antibodies to HGF may be accomplished by selecting substitutions in the amino acid sequence of the heavy and light chains that differ significantly in their effect on maintaining (a) the structure of the molecular backbone in the area of the substitution, for example, as a sheet or helical conformation, (b) the charge or hydrophobicity of the molecule at the target site, or (c) the bulk of the side chain.

For example, a “conservative amino acid substitution” may involve a substitution of a native amino acid residue with a normative residue such that there is little or no effect on the polarity or charge of the amino acid residue at that position. Furthermore, any native residue in the polypeptide may also be substituted with alanine, as has been previously described for “alanine scanning mutagenesis.”

Desired amino acid substitutions (whether conservative or non-conservative) can be determined by those skilled in the art at the time such substitutions are desired. In certain embodiments, amino acid substitutions can be used to identify important residues of antibodies to HGF, or to increase or decrease the affinity of the antibodies to HGF described herein.

In certain embodiments, antibodies of the present invention can be expressed in cell lines other than hybridoma cell lines. In certain embodiments, sequences encoding particular antibodies can be used for transformation of a suitable mammalian host cell. According to certain embodiments, transformation can be by any known method for introducing polynucleotides into a host cell, including, for example packaging the polynucleotide in a virus (or into a viral vector) and transducing a host cell with the virus (or vector) or by transfection procedures known in the art, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,399,216, 4,912,040, 4,740,461, and 4,959,455 (which patents are hereby incorporated herein by reference for any purpose). In certain embodiments, the transformation procedure used may depend upon the host to be transformed. Methods for introduction of heterologous polynucleotides into mammalian cells are well known in the art and include, but are not limited to, dextran-mediated transfection, calcium phosphate precipitation, polybrene mediated transfection, protoplast fusion, electroporation, encapsulation of the polynucleotide(s) in liposomes, and direct microinjection of the DNA into nuclei.

Mammalian cell lines available as hosts for expression are well known in the art and include, but are not limited to, many immortalized cell lines available from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), including but not limited to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, HeLa cells, baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells, monkey kidney cells (COS), human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (e.g., Hep G2), and a number of other cell lines. In certain embodiments, cell lines may be selected through determining which cell lines have high expression levels and produce antibodies with constitutive HGF binding properties. Appropriate expression vectors for mammalian host cells are well known.

In certain embodiments, specific binding agents comprise one or more polypeptides. In certain embodiments, any of a variety of expression vector/host systems may be utilized to express polynucleotide molecules encoding polypeptides. Such systems include, but are not limited to, microorganisms, such as bacteria transformed with recombinant bacteriophage, plasmid, or cosmid DNA expression vectors; yeast transformed with yeast expression vectors; insect cell systems infected with virus expression vectors (e.g., baculovirus); plant cell systems transfected with virus expression vectors (e.g., cauliflower mosaic virus, CaMV, tobacco mosaic virus, TMV) or transformed with bacterial expression vectors (e.g., Ti or pBR322 plasmid); or animal cell systems.

In certain embodiments, a polypeptide is recombinantly expressed in yeast. Certain such embodiments use commercially available expression systems, e.g., the Pichia Expression System (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.), following the manufacturer's instructions. In certain embodiments, such a system relies on the pre-pro-alpha sequence to direct secretion. In certain embodiments, transcription of the insert is driven by the alcohol oxidase (AOX1) promoter upon induction by methanol.

In certain embodiments, a secreted polypeptide is purified from yeast growth medium. In certain embodiments, the methods used to purify a polypeptide from yeast growth medium is the same as those used to purify the polypeptide from bacterial and mammalian cell supernatants.

In certain embodiments, a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide is cloned into a baculovirus expression vector, such as pVL1393 (PharMingen, San Diego, Calif.). In certain embodiments, such a vector can be used according to the manufacturer's directions (PharMingen) to infect Spodoptera frugiperda cells in sF9 protein-free media and to produce recombinant polypeptide. In certain embodiments, a polypeptide is purified and concentrated from such media using a heparin-Sepharose column (Pharmacia).

In certain embodiments, a polypeptide is expressed in an insect system. Certain insect systems for polypeptide expression are well known to those of skill in the art. In one such system, Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) is used as a vector to express foreign genes in Spodoptera frugiperda cells or in Trichoplusia larvae. In certain embodiments, a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide can be inserted into a nonessential gene of the virus, for example, within the polyhedrin gene, and placed under control of the promoter for that gene. In certain embodiments, successful insertion of a nucleic acid molecule will render the nonessential gene inactive. In certain embodiments, that inactivation results in a detectable characteristic. For example, inactivation of the polyhedrin gene results in the production of virus lacking coat protein.

In certain embodiments, recombinant viruses can be used to infect S. frugiperda cells or Trichoplusia larvae. See, e.g., Smith et al., J Virol 46: 584 (1983); Engelhard et al., Proc Nat Acad Sci (USA) 91: 3224-7 (1994).

In certain embodiments, polypeptides made in bacterial cells are produced as insoluble inclusion bodies in the bacteria. In certain embodiments, host cells comprising such inclusion bodies are collected by centrifugation; washed in 0.15 M NaCl, 10 mM Tris, pH 8, 1 mM EDTA; and treated with 0.1 mg/ml lysozyme (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.) for 15 minutes at room temperature. In certain embodiments, the lysate is cleared by sonication, and cell debris is pelleted by centrifugation for 10 minutes at 12,000×g. In certain embodiments, the polypeptide-containing pellet is resuspended in 50 mM Tris, pH 8, and 10 mM EDTA; layered over 50% glycerol; and centrifuged for 30 minutes at 6000×g. In certain embodiments, that pellet can be resuspended in standard phosphate buffered saline solution (PBS) free of Mg⁺⁺ and Ca⁺⁺. In certain embodiments, the polypeptide is further purified by fractionating the resuspended pellet in a denaturing SDS polyacrylamide gel (See, e.g., Sambrook et al., supra). In certain embodiments, such a gel can be soaked in 0.4 M KCl to visualize the protein, which can be excised and electroeluted in gel-running buffer lacking SDS. According to certain embodiments, a Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) fusion protein is produced in bacteria as a soluble protein. In certain embodiments, such GST fusion protein is purified using a GST Purification Module (Pharmacia).

In certain embodiments, it is desirable to “refold” certain polypeptides. In certain embodiments, such polypeptides are produced using certain recombinant systems discussed herein. In certain embodiments, polypeptides are “refolded” and/or oxidized to form desired tertiary structure and/or to generate disulfide linkages. In certain embodiments, such structure and/or linkages are related to certain biological activity of a polypeptide. In certain embodiments, refolding is accomplished using any of a number of procedures known in the art. Exemplary methods include, but are not limited to, exposing the solubilized polypeptide agent to a pH typically above 7 in the presence of a chaotropic agent. An exemplary chaotropic agent is guanidine. In certain embodiments, the refolding/oxidation solution also contains a reducing agent and the oxidized form of that reducing agent. In certain embodiments, the reducing agent and its oxidized form are present in a ratio that will generate a particular redox potential that allows disulfide shuffling to occur. In certain embodiments, such shuffling allows the formation of cysteine bridges. Exemplary redox couples include, but are not limited to, cysteine/cystamine, glutathione/dithiobisGSH, cupric chloride, dithiothreitol DTT/dithiane DTT, and 2-mercaptoethanol (bME)/dithio-bME. In certain embodiments, a co-solvent is used to increase the efficiency of refolding. Exemplary cosolvents include, but are not limited to, glycerol, polyethylene glycol of various molecular weights, and arginine.

In certain embodiments, one substantially purifies a polypeptide. Certain protein purification techniques are known to those of skill in the art. In certain embodiments, protein purification involves crude fractionation of polypeptide fractionations from non-polypeptide fractions. In certain embodiments, polypeptides are purified using chromatographic and/or electrophoretic techniques. Exemplary purification methods include, but are not limited to, precipitation with ammonium sulphate; precipitation with PEG; immunoprecipitation; heat denaturation followed by centrifugation; chromatography, including, but not limited to, affinity chromatography (e.g., Protein-A-Sepharose), ion exchange chromatography, exclusion chromatography, and reverse phase chromatography; gel filtration; hydroxylapatite chromatography; isoelectric focusing; polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; and combinations of such and other techniques. In certain embodiments, a polypeptide is purified by fast protein liquid chromatography or by high pressure liquid chromotography (HPLC). In certain embodiments, purification steps may be changed or certain steps may be omitted, and still result in a suitable method for the preparation of a substantially purified polypeptide.

In certain embodiments, one quantitates the degree of purification of a polypeptide preparation. Certain methods for quantifying the degree of purification are known to those of skill in the art. Certain exemplary methods include, but are not limited to, determining the specific binding activity of the preparation and assessing the amount of a polypeptide within a preparation by SDS/PAGE analysis. Certain exemplary methods for assessing the amount of purification of a polypeptide preparation comprise calculating the binding activity of a preparation and comparing it to the binding activity of an initial extract. In certain embodiments, the results of such a calculation are expressed as “fold purification.” The units used to represent the amount of binding activity depend upon the particular assay performed.

In certain embodiments, a polypeptide is partially purified. In certain embodiments, partial purification may be accomplished by using fewer purification steps or by utilizing different forms of the same general purification scheme. For example, in certain embodiments, a cation-exchange column chromatography performed utilizing an HPLC apparatus will generally result in a greater “fold purification” than the same technique utilizing a low-pressure chromatography system. In certain embodiments, methods resulting in a lower degree of purification may have advantages in total recovery of polypeptide, or in maintaining binding activity of a polypeptide.

In certain instances, the electrophoretic migration of a polypeptide can vary, sometimes significantly, with different conditions of SDS/PAGE. See, e.g., Capaldi et al., Biochem Biophys\Res Comm, 76: 425 (1977). It will be appreciated that under different electrophoresis conditions, the apparent molecular weights of purified or partially purified polypeptide may be different.

Certain Exemplary Epitopes

In certain embodiments, epitopes to which anti-HGF antibodies bind are provided (see, e.g., Example 8, FIGS. 10 and 11, and SEQ ID NO. 164 and 165). In certain embodiments, an HGF epitope may be utilized to prevent binding of an anti-HGF antibody or specific binding agent to HGF. In certain embodiments, an HGF epitope may be utilized to decrease binding of an anti-HGF antibody or specific binding agent to HGF. In certain embodiments, an HGF epitope may be utilized to substantially inhibit binding of an anti-HGF antibody or specific binding agent to HGF. An epitope substantially inhibits binding of an anti-HGF antibody or specific binding agent to HGF when an excess of epitope reduces the quantity of anti-HGF antibody or specific binding agent bound to HGF by at least about 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 85%, or more. In certain embodiments, an HGF epitope may be utilized to bind anti-HGF antibody or specific binding agent. In certain embodiments, an HGF epitope may be utilized to identify antibodies or specific binding agents which bind to HGF. In certain embodiments, an HGF epitope may be utilized to isolate antibodies or specific binding agents which bind to HGF. In certain embodiments, an HGF epitope may be utilized to generate antibodies or specific binding agents which bind to HGF. In certain embodiments, an HGF epitope may be utilized as an immunogen to generate antibodies or specific binding agents which bind to HGF. In certain embodiments, an HGF epitope may be administered to an animal, and antibodies which bind to HGF may subsequently be obtained from the animal. In certain embodiments, an HGF epitope may be utilized to interfere with normal HGF-Met signaling.

Certain Therapeutic Uses

In certain embodiments, methods are provided of treating a cancer comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more specific binding agents to HGF. In certain embodiments, methods are provided of treating cancer comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more specific binding agents to HGF and another therapeutic agent.

In certain embodiments, methods are provided of treating or preventing malaria comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more specific binding agents to HGF. In certain embodiments, methods are provided of treating or preventing malaria comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more specific binding agents to HGF and another therapeutic agent.

In certain embodiments, methods are provided of treating or preventing proliferative diabetic retinopathy comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more specific binding agents to HGF. In certain embodiments, methods are provided of treating or preventing proliferative diabetic retinopathy comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more specific binding agents to HGF and another therapeutic agent.

In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent to HGF is administered alone. In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent to HGF is administered prior to the administration of at least one other therapeutic agent. In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent to HGF is administered concurrent with the administration of at least one other therapeutic agent. In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent to HGF is administered subsequent to the administration of at least one other therapeutic agent. Therapeutic agents, include, but are not limited to, at least one other cancer therapy agent. Exemplary cancer therapy agents include, but are not limited to, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention can be administered in combination therapy, i.e., combined with other agents. In certain embodiments, the combination therapy comprises a specific binding agent capable of binding HGF, in combination with at least one anti-angiogenic agent. Agents include, but are not limited to, in vitro synthetically prepared chemical compositions, antibodies, antigen binding regions, radionuclides, and combinations and conjugates thereof. In certain embodiments, an agent may act as an agonist, antagonist, alllosteric modulator, or toxin. In certain embodiments, an agent may act to inhibit or stimulate its target (e.g., receptor or enzyme activation or inhibition), and thereby promote cell death or arrest cell growth.

Chemotherapy treatments include, but are not limited to anti-neoplastic agents including, but not limited to, alkylating agents including: nitrogen mustards, such as mechlorethamine, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, melphalan and chlorambucil; nitrosoureas, such as carmustine (BCNU), lomustine (CCNU), and semustine (methyl-CCNU); Temodal™ (temozolamide), ethylenimines/methylmelamine such as thriethylenemelamine (TEM), triethylene, thiophosphoramide (thiotepa), hexamethylmelamine (HMM, altretamine); alkyl sulfonates such as busulfan; triazines such as dacarbazine (DTIC); antimetabolites including folic acid analogs such as methotrexate and trimetrexate, pyrimidine analogs such as 5-fluorouracil (5FU), fluorodeoxyuridine, gemcitabine, cytosine arabinoside (AraC, cytarabine), 5-azacytidine, 2,2″-difluorodeoxycytidine, purine analogs such as 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, azathioprine, 2′-deoxycoformycin (pentostatin), erythrohydroxynonyladenine (EHNA), fludarabine phosphate, and 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (cladribine, 2-CdA); natural products including antimitotic drugs such as paclitaxel, vinca alkaloids including vinblastine (VLB), vincristine, and vinorelbine, taxotere, estramustine, and estramustine phosphate; ppipodophylotoxins such as etoposide and teniposide; antibiotics such as actimomycin D, daunomycin (rubidomycin), doxorubicin, mitoxantrone, idarubicin, bleomycins, plicamycin (mithramycin), mitomycinC, and actinomycin; enzymes such as L-asparaginase; biological response modifiers such as interferon-alpha, IL-2, G-CSF and GM-CSF; miscellaneous agents including platinium coordination complexes such as cisplatin and carboplatin, anthracenediones such as mitoxantrone, substituted urea such as hydroxyurea, methylhydrazine derivatives including N-methylhydrazine (MlH) and procarbazine, adrenocortical suppressants such as mitotane (o,p″-DDD) and aminoglutethimide; hormones and antagonists including adrenocorticosteroid antagonists such as prednisone and equivalents, dexamethasone and aminoglutethimide; Gemzar™ (gemcitabine), progestin such as hydroxyprogesterone caproate, medroxyprogesterone acetate and megestrol acetate; estrogen such as diethylstilbestrol and ethinyl estradiol equivalents; antiestrogen such as tamoxifen; androgens including testosterone propionate and fluoxymesterone/equivalents; antiandrogens such as flutamide, gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs and leuprolide; and non-steroidal antiandrogens such as flutamide.

Cancer therapies, which may be administered with a specific binding agent to HGF, also include, but are not limited to, targeted therapies. Examples of targeted therapies include, but are not limited to, use of therapeutic antibodies. Exemplary therapeutic antibodies, include, but are not limited to, mouse, mouse-human chimeric, CDR-grafted, humanized and fully human antibodies, and synthetic antibodies, including, but not limited to, those selected by screening antibody libraries. Exemplary antibodies include, but are not limited to, those which bind to cell surface proteins Her2, CDC20, CDC33, mucin-like glycoprotein, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) present on tumor cells, and optionally induce a cytostatic and/or cytotoxic effect on tumor cells displaying these proteins. Exemplary antibodies also include HERCEPTIN® (trastuzumab), which may be used to treat breast cancer and other forms of cancer, and RITUXAN® (rituximab), ZEVALIN® (ibritumomab tiuxetan), GLEEVEC®, and LYMPHOCIDE® (epratuzumab), which may be used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and other forms of cancer. Certain exemplary antibodies also include ERBITUX® (IMC-C225); ertinolib (Iressa); BEXXAR® (iodine 131 tositumomab); KDR (kinase domain receptor) inhibitors; anti VEGF antibodies and antagonists (e.g., Avastin® (bevacizumab) and VEGAF-TRAP); anti VEGF receptor antibodies and antigen binding regions; anti-Ang-1 and Ang-2 antibodies and antigen binding regions; antibodies to Tie-2 and other Ang-1 and Ang-2 receptors; Tie-2 ligands; antibodies against Tie-2 kinase inhibitors; and Campath® (Alemtuzumab). In certain embodiments, cancer therapy agents are polypeptides which selectively induce apoptosis in tumor cells, including, but not limited to, the TNF-related polypeptide TRAIL.

In certain embodiments, cancer therapy agents are anti-angiogenic agents which decrease angiogenesis. Certain such agents include, but are not limited to, IL-8; Campath, B-FGF; FGF antagonists; Tek antagonists (Cerretti et al., U.S. Publication No. 2003/0162712; Cerretti et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,932, and Cerretti et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,521,424, each of which is incorporated herein by reference for any purpose); anti-TWEAK agents (which include, but are not limited to, antibodies and antigen binding regions); soluble TWEAK receptor antagonists (Wiley, U.S. Pat. No. 6,727,225); an ADAM distintegrin domain to antagonize the binding of integrin to its ligands (Fanslow et al., U.S. Publication No. 2002/0042368); anti-eph receptor and anti-ephrin antibodies; antigen binding regions, or antagonists (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,981,245; 5,728,813; 5,969,110; 6,596,852; 6,232,447; 6,057,124 and patent family members thereof); anti-VEGF agents (e.g., antibodies or antigen binding regions that specifically bind VEGF, or soluble VEGF receptors or a ligand binding regions thereof) such as Avastin™ or VEGF-TRAP™, and anti-VEGF receptor agents (e.g., antibodies or antigen binding regions that specifically bind thereto), EGFR inhibitory agents (e.g., antibodies or antigen binding regions that specifically bind thereto) such as panitumumab, IRESSA™ (gefitinib), TARCEVA™ (erlotinib), anti-Ang-1 and anti-Ang-2 agents (e.g., antibodies or antigen binding regions specifically binding thereto or to their receptors, e.g., Tie-2/TEK), and anti-Tie-2 kinase inhibitory agents (e.g., antibodies or antigen binding regions that specifically bind and inhibit the activity of growth factors, such as antagonists of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF, also known as Scatter Factor), and antibodies or antigen binding regions that specifically bind its receptor “c-met”; anti-PDGF-BB antagonists; antibodies and antigen binding regions to PDGF-BB ligands; and PDGFR kinase inhibitors.

In certain embodiments, cancer therapy agents are angiogenesis inhibitors. Certain such inhibitors include, but are not limited to, SD-7784 (Pfizer, USA); cilengitide. (Merck KGaA, Germany, EPO 770622); pegaptanib octasodium, (Gilead Sciences, USA); Alphastatin, (BioActa, UK); M-PGA, (Celgene, USA, U.S. Pat. No. 5,712,291); ilomastat, (Arriva, USA, U.S. Pat. No. 5,892,112); semaxanib, (Pfizer, USA, U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,783); vatalanib, (Novartis, Switzerland); 2-methoxyestradiol, (EntreMed, USA); TLC ELL-12, (Elan, Ireland); anecortave acetate, (Alcon, USA); alpha-D148 Mab, (Amgen, USA); CEP-7055, (Cephalon, USA); anti-Vn Mab, (Crucell, Netherlands) DAC:antiangiogenic, (ConjuChem, Canada); Angiocidin, (InKine Pharmaceutical, USA); KM-2550, (Kyowa Hakko, Japan); SU-0879, (Pfizer, USA); CGP-79787, (Novartis, Switzerland, EP 970070); ARGENT technology, (Ariad, USA); YIGSR-Stealth, (Johnson & Johnson, USA); fibrinogen-E fragment, (BioActa, UK); angiogenesis inhibitor, (Trigen, UK); TBC-1635, (Encysive Pharmaceuticals, USA); SC-236, (Pfizer, USA); ABT-567, (Abbott, USA); Metastatin, (EntreMed, USA); angiogenesis inhibitor, (Tripep, Sweden); maspin, (Sosei, Japan); 2-methoxyestradiol, (Oncology Sciences Corporation, USA); ER-68203-00, (IVAX, USA); Benefin, (Lane Labs, USA); Tz-93, (Tsumura, Japan); TAN-1120, (Takeda, Japan); FR-111142, (Fujisawa, Japan, JP 02233610); platelet factor 4, (RepliGen, USA, EP 407122); vascular endothelial growth factor antagonist, (Borean, Denmark); cancer therapy, (University of South Carolina, USA); bevacizumab (pINN), (Genentech, USA); angiogenesis inhibitors, (SUGEN, USA); XL 784, (Exelixis, USA); XL 647, (Exelixis, USA); MAb, alpha5beta3 integrin, second generation, (Applied Molecular Evolution, USA and MedImmune, USA); gene therapy, retinopathy, (Oxford BioMedica, UK); enzastaurin hydrochloride (USAN), (Lilly, USA); CEP 7055, (Cephalon, USA and Sanofi-Synthelabo, France); BC 1, (Genoa Institute of Cancer Research, Italy); angiogenesis inhibitor, (Alchemia, Australia); VEGF antagonist, (Regeneron, USA); rBPI 21 and BPI-derived antiangiogenic, (XOMA, USA); PI 88, (Progen, Australia); cilengitide (pINN), (Merck KGaA, German; Munich Technical University, Germany, Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, USA); cetuximab (INN), (Aventis, France); AVE 8062, (Ajinomoto, Japan); AS 1404, (Cancer Research Laboratory, New Zealand); SG 292, (Telios, USA); Endostatin, (Boston Childrens Hospital, USA); ATN 161, (Attenuon, USA); ANGIOSTATIN, (Boston Childrens Hospital, USA); 2-methoxyestradiol, (Boston Childrens Hospital, USA); ZD 6474, (AstraZeneca, UK); ZD 6126, (Angiogene Pharmaceuticals, UK); PPI 2458, (Praecis, USA); AZD 9935, (AstraZeneca, UK); AZD 2171, (AstraZeneca, UK); vatalanib (pINN), (Novartis, Switzerland and Schering AG, Germany); tissue factor pathway inhibitors, (EntreMed, USA); pegaptanib (Pinn), (Gilead Sciences, USA); xanthorrhizol, (Yonsei University, South Korea); vaccine, gene-based, VEGF-2, (Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, USA); SPV5.2, (Supratek, Canada); SDX 103, (University of California at San Diego, USA); PX 478, (ProIX, USA); METASTATIN, (EntreMed, USA); troponin I, (Harvard University, USA); SU 6668, (SUGEN, USA); OXI 4503, (OXiGENE, USA); o-guanidines, (Dimensional Pharmaceuticals, USA); motuporamine C, (British Columbia University, Canada); CDP 791, (Celltech Group, UK); atiprimod (pINN), (GlaxoSmithKline, UK); E 7820, (Eisai, Japan); CYC 381, (Harvard University, USA); AE 941, (Aeterna, Canada); vaccine, angiogenesis, (EntreMed, USA); urokinase plasminogen activator inhibitor, (Dendreon, USA); oglufanide (pINN), (Melmotte, USA); HIF-lalfa inhibitors, (Xenova, UK); CEP 5214, (Cephalon, USA); BAY RES 2622, (Bayer, Germany); Angiocidin, (InKine, USA); A6, (Angstrom, USA); KR 31372, (Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, South Korea); GW 2286, (GlaxoSmithKline, UK); EHT 0101, (ExonHit, France); CP 868596, (Pfizer, USA); CP 564959, (OSI, USA); CP 547632, (Pfizer, USA); 786034, (GlaxoSmithKline, UK); KRN 633, (Kirin Brewery, Japan); drug delivery system, intraocular, 2-methoxyestradiol, (EntreMed, USA); anginex, (Maastricht University, Netherlands, and Minnesota University, USA); ABT 510, (Abbott, USA); AAL 993, (Novartis, Switzerland); VEGI, (ProteomTech, USA); tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors, (National Institute on Aging, USA); SU 11248, (Pfizer, USA and SUGEN USA); ABT 518, (Abbott, USA); YH16, (Yantai Rongchang, China); S-3APG, (Boston Childrens Hospital, USA and EntreMed, USA); MAb, KDR, (ImClone Systems, USA); MAb, alpha5 beta1, (Protein Design, USA); KDR kinase inhibitor, (Celltech Group, UK, and Johnson & Johnson, USA); GFB 116, (South Florida University, USA and Yale University, USA); CS 706, (Sankyo, Japan); combretastatin A4 prodrug, (Arizona State University, USA); chondroitinase AC, (IBEX, Canada); BAY RES 2690, (Bayer, Germany); AGM 1470, (Harvard University, USA, Takeda, Japan, and TAP, USA); AG 13925, (Agouron, USA); Tetrathiomolybdate, (University of Michigan, USA); GCS 100, (Wayne State University, USA) CV 247, (Ivy Medical, UK); CKD 732, (Chong Kun Dang, South Korea); MAb, vascular endothelium growth factor, (Xenova, UK); irsogladine (INN), (Nippon Shinyaku, Japan); RG 13577, (Aventis, France); WX 360, (Wilex, Germany); squalamine (pINN), (Genaera, USA); RPI 4610, (Sirna, USA); cancer therapy, (Marinova, Australia); heparanase inhibitors, (InSight, Israel); KL 3106, (Kolon, South Korea); Honokiol, (Emory University, USA); ZK CDK, (Schering AG, Germany); ZK Angio, (Schering AG, Germany); ZK 229561, (Novartis, Switzerland, and Schering AG, Germany); XMP 300, (XOMA, USA); VGA 1102, (Taisho, Japan); VEGF receptor modulators, (Pharmacopeia, USA); VE-cadherin-2 antagonists, (ImClone Systems, USA); Vasostatin, (National Institutes of Health, USA);vaccine, Flk-1, (ImClone Systems, USA); TZ 93, (Tsumura, Japan); TumStatin, (Beth Israel Hospital, USA); truncated soluble FLT 1 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1), (Merck & Co, USA); Tie-2 ligands, (Regeneron, USA); thrombospondin 1 inhibitor, (Allegheny Health, Education and Research Foundation, USA); 2-Benzenesulfonamide,4-(5-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-; Arriva; and C-Met. AVE 8062 ((2S)-2-amino-3-hydroxy-N-[2-methoxy-5-[(1Z)-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)ethenyl]phenyl]propanamide monohydrochloride); metelimumab (pINN)(immunoglobulin G4, anti-(human transforming growth factor .beta.1 (human monoclonal CAT 192.gamma.4-chain)), disulfide with human monoclonal CAT 192.kappa.-chain dimer); Flt3 ligand; CD40 ligand; interleukin-2; interleukin-12; 4-1BB ligand; anti-4-1BB antibodies; TNF antagonists and TNF receptor antagonists including TNFR/Fc, TWEAK antagonists and TWEAK-R antagonists including TWEAK-R/Fc; TRAIL; VEGF antagonists including anti-VEGF antibodies; VEGF receptor (including VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2, also known as Flt1 and Flk1 or KDR) antagonists; CD148 (also referred to as DEP-1, ECRTP, and PTPRJ, see Takahashi et al., J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 10: 2135-45 (1999), hereby incorporated by reference for any purpose) agonists; thrombospondin 1 inhibitor, and inhibitors of one or both of Tie-2 or Tie-2 ligands (such as Ang-2). A number of inhibitors of Ang-2 are known in the art, including anti-Ang-2 antibodies described in published U.S. Patent Application No. 20030124129 (corresponding to PCT Application No. WO03/030833), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,166,185, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Additionally, Ang-2 peptibodies are also known in the art, and can be found in, for example, published U.S. Patent Application No. 20030229023 (corresponding to PCT Application No. WO03/057134), and published U.S. Patent Application No. 20030236193, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Certain cancer therapy agents include, but are not limited to: thalidomide and thalidomide analogues (N-(2,6-dioxo-3-piperidyl)phthalimide); tecogalan sodium (sulfated polysaccharide peptidoglycan); TAN 1120 (8-acetyl-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-6,8,11-trihydroxy-1-methoxy-10-[[octahydro-5-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxypropyl)-4,10-dimethylpyrano[3,4-d]-1,3,6-dioxazocin-8-yl]oxy]-5,12-naphthacenedione); suradista (7,7′-[carbonylbis[imino(1-methyl-1H-pyrrole-4,2-diyl)carbonylimino(1-methyl-1H-pyrrole-4,2-diyl)carbonylimino]]bis-1,3-naphthalenedisulfonic acid tetrasodium salt); SU 302; SU 301; SU 1498 ((E)-2-cyano-3-[4-hydroxy-3,5-bis(1-methylethyl)phenyl]-N-(3-phenylpropyl)-2-pro penamide); SU 1433 (4-(6,7-dimethyl-2-quinoxalinyl)-1,2-benzenediol); ST 1514; SR 25989;soluble Tie-2; SERM derivatives, Pharmos; semaxanib (pINN)(3-[(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methylene]-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-one); S 836; RG 8803; RESTIN; R 440 (3-(1-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-4-(1-methyl-6-nitro-1H-indol-3-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione); R 123942 (1-[6-(1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-yl)-3-pyridazinyl]-N-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-piperidinamine); prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor; progression elevated genes; prinomastat (INN) ((S)-2,2-dimethyl-4-[[p-(4-pyridyloxy)phenyl]sulphonyl]-3-thiomorpholinecarbohydroxamic acid); NV 1030; NM 3 (8-hydroxy-6-methoxy-alpha-methyl-1-oxo-1H-2-benzopyran-3-acetic acid); NF 681; NF 050; MIG; METH 2; METH 1; manassantin B (alpha-[1-[4-[5-[4-[2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-hydroxy-1-methylethoxy]-3-methoxyphenyl]tetrahydro-3,4-dimethyl-2-furanyl]-2-methoxyphenoxy]ethyl]-1,3-benzodioxole-5-methanol); KDR monoclonal antibody; alpha5beta3 integrin monoclonal antibody; LY 290293 (2-amino-4-(3-pyridinyl)-4H-naphtho[1,2-b]pyran-3-carbonitrile); KP 0201448; KM 2550; integrin-specific peptides; INGN 401; GYKI 66475; GYKI 66462; greenstatin (101-354-plasminogen (human)); gene therapy for rheumatoid arthritis, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, glioma, endostatin, colorectal cancer, ATF BTPI, antiangiogenesis genes, angiogenesis inhibitor, or angiogenesis; gelatinase inhibitor, FR 111142 (4,5-dihydroxy-2-hexenoic acid 5-methoxy-4-[2-methyl-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)oxiranyl]-1-oxaspiro[2.5]oct-6-yl ester); forfenimex (pINN) (S)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-4-(hydroxymethyl)benzeneacetic acid); fibronectin antagonist (1-acetyl-L-prolyl-L-histidyl-L-seryl-L-cysteinyl-L-aspartamide); fibroblast growth factor receptor inhibitor; fibroblast growth factor antagonist; FCE 27164 (7,7′-[carbonylbis[imino(1-methyl-1H-pyrrole-4,2-diyl)carbonylimino(1-methyl-1H-pyrrole-4,2-diyl)carbonylimino]]bis-1,3,5-naphthalenetrisulfonic acid hexasodium salt); FCE 26752 (8,8′-[carbonylbis[imino(1-methyl-1H-pyrrole-4,2-diyl)carbonylimino(1-methyl-1H-pyrrole-4,2-diyl)carbonylimino]]bis-1,3,6-naphthalenetrisulfonic acid); endothelial monocyte activating polypeptide II; VEGFR antisense oligonucleotide; anti-angiogenic and trophic factors; ANCHOR angiostatic agent; endostatin; Del-1 angiogenic protein; CT 3577; contortrostatin; CM 101; chondroitinase AC; CDP 845; CanStatin; BST 2002; BST 2001; BLS 0597; BIBF 1000; ARRESTIN; apomigren (1304-1388-type XV collagen (human gene COL15A1 alpha1-chain precursor)); angioinhibin; aaATIII; A 36; 9alpha-fluoromedroxyprogesterone acetate ((6-alpha)-17-(acetyloxy)-9-fluoro-6-methyl-pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione); 2-methyl-2-phthalimidino-glutaric acid (2-(1,3-dihydro-1-oxo-2H-isoindol-2-yl)-2-methylpentanedioic acid); Yttrium 90 labelled monoclonal antibody BC-1; Semaxanib (3-(4,5-Dimethylpyrrol-2-ylmethylene)indolin-2-one)(C15H14N2O); PI 88 (phosphomannopentaose sulfate); Alvocidib (4H-1-Benzopyran-4-one, 2-(2-chlorophenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-8-(3-hydroxy-1-methyl-4-piperidinyl)-cis-(−)-) (C21H20ClNO5); E 7820; SU 11248 (5-[3-Fluoro-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroindol-(3Z)-ylidenemethyl]-2,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylic acid (2-diethylaminoethyl)amide) (C22H27FN4O2); Squalamine (Cholestane-7,24-diol, 3-[[3-[(4-aminobutyl)aminopropyl]amino]-, 24-(hydrogen sulfate), (3.beta., 5.alpha., 7.alpha.)-) (C34H65N3O5S); Eriochrome Black T; AGM 1470 (Carbamic acid, (chloroacetyl)-, 5-methoxy-4-[2-methyl-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)oxiranyl]-1-oxaspiro[2,5]oct-6-yl ester, [3R-[3alpha, 4alpha(2R,3R), 5beta, 6beta]]) (C19H28ClNO6); AZD 9935; BIBF 1000; AZD 2171; ABT 828; KS-interleukin-2; Uteroglobin; A 6; NSC 639366 (1-[3-(Diethylamino)-2-hydroxypropylamino]-4-(oxyran-2-ylmethylamino)anthraquinone fumerate) (C24H29N3O4.C4H4O4); ISV 616; anti-ED-B fusion proteins; HUI 77; Troponin I; BC-1 monoclonal antibody; SPV 5.2; ER 68203; CKD 731 (3-(3,4,5-Trimethoxyphenyl)-2(E)-propenoic acid (3R,4S,5S,6R)-4-[2(R)-methyl-3(R)-3(R)-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)oxiran-2-yl]-5-methoxy-1-oxaspiro[2.5]oct-6-yl ester) (C28H38O8); IMC-1C11; aaATIII; SC 7; CM 101; Angiocol; Kringle 5; CKD 732 (3-[4-[2-(Dimethylamino)ethoxy]phenyl]-2(E)-propenoic acid) (C29H41NO6); U 995; Canstatin; SQ 885; CT 2584 (1-[11-(Dodecylamino)-10-hydroxyundecyl]-3,7-dimethylxanthine)(C30H55N5O3); Salmosin; EMAP II; TX 1920 (1-(4-Methylpiperazino)-2-(2-nitro-1H-1-imidazoyl)-1-ethanone) (C10H15N5O3); Alpha-v Beta-x inhibitor; CHIR 11509 (N-(1-Propynyl)glycyl-[N-(2-naphthyl)]glycyl-[N-(carbamoylmethyl)]glycine bis(4-methoxyphenyl)methylamide)(C36H37N5O6); BST 2002; BST 2001; B 0829; FR 111142; 4,5-Dihydroxy-2(E)-hexenoic acid (3R,4S,5S,6R)-4-[1(R),2(R)-epoxy-1,5-dimethyl-4-hexenyl]-5-methoxy-1-oxaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl ester (C22H34O7); and kinase inhibitors including, but not limited to, N-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(4-pyridinylmethyl)-1-phthalazinamine; 4-[4-[[[[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]amino]carbonyl]amino]phenoxy]-N-methyl-2-pyridinecarboxamide; N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-5-[(5-fluoro-1,2-dihydro-2-oxo-3H-indol-3-ylidene)methyl]-2,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxamide; 3-[(4-bromo-2,6-difluorophenyl)methoxy]-5-[[[[4-(1-pyrrolidinyl)butyl]amino]carbonyl]amino]-4-isothiazolecarboxamide; N-(4-bromo-2-fluorophenyl)-6-methoxy-7-[(1-methyl-4-piperidinyl)methoxy]-4-quinazolinamine; 3-[5,6,7,13-tetrahydro-9-[(1-methylethoxy)methyl]-5-oxo-12H-indeno[2,1-a]pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazol-12-yl]propyl ester N,N-dimethyl-glycine; N-[5-[[[5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-2-oxazolyl]methyl]thio]-2-thiazolyl]-4-piperidinecarboxamide; N-[3-chloro-4-[(3-fluorophenyl)methoxy]phenyl]-6-[5-[[[2-(methylsulfonyl)ethyl]amino]methyl]-2-furanyl]-4-quinazolinamine; 4-[(4-Methyl-1-piperazinyl)methyl]-N-[4-methyl-3-[[4-(3-pyridinyl)-2-pyrimidinyl]amino]-phenyl]benzamide; N-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-7-methoxy-6-[3-(4-morpholinyl)propoxy]-4-quinazolinamine; N-(3-ethynylphenyl)-6,7-bis(2-methoxyethoxy)-4-quinazolinamine; N-(3-((((2R)-1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl)oxy)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-2-((3-(1,3-oxazol-5-yl)phenyl)amino)-3-pyridinecarboxamide; 2-(((4-fluorophenyl)methyl)amino)-N-(3-((((2R)-1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl)oxy)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-3-pyridinecarboxamide; N-[3-(Azetidin-3-ylmethoxy)-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl]-2-(4-fluoro-benzylamino)-nicotinamide; 6-fluoro-N-(4-(1-methylethyl)phenyl)-2-((4-pyridinylmethyl)amino)-3-pyridinecarboxamide; 2-((4-pyridinylmethyl)amino)-N-(3-(((2S)-2-pyrrolidinylmethyl)oxy)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-3-pyridinecarboxamide; N-(3-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-2-((4-pyridinylmethyl)amino)-3-pyridinecarboxamide; N-(3,3-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-6-yl)-2-((4-pyridinylmethyl)amino)-3-pyridinecarboxamide; N-(3-((((2S)-1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl)oxy)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-2-((4-pyridinylmethyl)amino)-3-pyridinecarboxamide; 2-((4-pyridinylmethyl)amino)-N-(3-((2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethyl)oxy)-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-3-pyridinecarboxamide; N-(3,3-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-indol-6-yl)-2-((4-pyridinylmethyl)amino)-3-pyridinecarboxamide; N-(4-(pentafluoroethyl)-3-(((2S)-2-pyrrolidinylmethyl)oxy)phenyl)-2-((4-pyridinylmethyl)amino)-3-pyridinecarboxamide; N-(3-((3-azetidinylmethyl)oxy)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-2-((4-pyridinylmethyl)amino)-3-pyridinecarboxamide; N-(3-(4-piperidinyloxy)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-2-((2-(3-pyridinyl)ethyl)amino)-3-pyridinecarboxamide; N-(4,4-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolin-7-yl)-2-(1H-indazol-6-ylamino)-nicotinamide; 2-(1H-indazol-6-ylamino)-N-[3-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-ylmethoxy)-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl]-nicotinamide; N-[1-(2-dimethylamino-acetyl)-3,3-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-indol-6-yl]-2-(1H-indazol-6-ylamino)-nicotinamide; 2-(1H-indazol-6-ylamino)-N-[3-(pyrrolidin-2-ylmethoxy)-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl]-nicotinamide; N-(1-acetyl-3,3-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-indol-6-yl)-2-(1H-indazol-6-ylamino)-nicotinamide; N-(4,4-dimethyl-1-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolin-7-yl)-2-(1H-indazol-6-ylamino)-nicotinamide; N-[4-(tert-butyl)-3-(3-piperidylpropyl)phenyl][2-(1H-indazol-6-ylamino)(3-pyridyl)]carboxamide; N-[5-(tert-butyl)isoxazol-3-yl][2-(1H-indazol-6-ylamino)(3-pyridyl)]carboxamide; and N-[4-(tert-butyl)phenyl][2-(1H-indazol-6-ylamino)(3-pyridyl)]carboxamide, and kinase inhibitors disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,258,812; 6,235,764; 6,630,500; 6,515,004; 6,713,485; 5,521,184; 5,770,599; 5,747,498; 5,990,141; U.S. Publication No. US20030105091; and Patent Cooperation Treaty publication nos. WO01/37820; WO01/32651; WO02/68406; WO02/66470; WO02/55501; WO04/05279; WO04/07481; WO04/07458; WO04/09784; WO02/59110; WO99/45009; WO98/35958; WO00/59509; WO99/61422; WO00/12089; and WO00/02871, each of which publications are hereby incorporated by reference for any purpose.

In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent to HGF may be administered prior to, concurrent with, and subsequent to treatment with a cancer therapy agent. In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent to HGF may be administered prophylactically to prevent or mitigate the onset of bone loss by metastatic cancer. In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent to HGF may be administered for the treatment of an existing condition of bone loss due to metastasis.

Exemplary cancers include, but are not limited to, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric carcinoma, glioma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, hereditary and sporadic papillary renal carcinoma, leukemia, lymphoma, L1-Fraumeni syndrome, malignant pleural mesothelioma, melanoma, multiple myeloma, non-small cell lung carcinoma, osteosarcoma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, small cell lung cancer, synovial sarcoma, thyroid carcinoma, and transitional cell carcinoma of urinary bladder.

In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent to HGF may be used alone or with at least one additional therapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer. In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent to HGF is used in conjunction with a therapeutically effective amount of an additional therapeutic agent. Exemplary therapeutic agents that may be administered with a specific binding agent to HGF include, but are not limited to, a member of the geldanamycin family of anisamycin antibiotics; a Pro-HGF; NK2; a c-Met peptide inhibitor; an antagonist of Grb2 Src homology 2; a Gab1 modulator; dominant-negative Src; a von-Hippel-Lindau inhibitor, including, but not limited to, wortmannin; P13 kinase inhibitors, other anti-receptor therapies, anti EGFR, a COX-2 inhibitor, Celebrex®, Vioxx®; a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a VEGF modulator, a fibroblast growth factor (FGF), an FGF modulator, an epidermal growth factor (EGF); an EGF modulator; a keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), a KGF-related molecule, a KGF modulator; a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) modulator.

In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent to HGF is used with particular therapeutic agents to treat various cancers. In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent to HGF is used with particular therapeutic agents to treat or prevent malaria. In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent to HGF is used with particular therapeutic agents to treat or prevent proliferative diabetic retinopathy. In certain embodiments, in view of the condition and the desired level of treatment, two, three, or more agents may be administered. In certain embodiments, such agents may be provided together by inclusion in the same formulation. In certain embodiments, such agents and a specific binding agent to HGF may be provided together by inclusion in the same formulation. In certain embodiments, such agents may be formulated separately and provided together by inclusion in a treatment kit. In certain embodiments, such agents and a specific binding agent to HGF may be formulated separately and provided together by inclusion in a treatment kit. In certain embodiments, such agents may be provided separately. In certain embodiments, when administered by gene therapy, the genes encoding protein agents and/or a specific binding agent to HGF may be included in the same vector. In certain embodiments, the genes encoding protein agents and/or a specific binding agent to HGF may be under the control of the same promoter region. In certain embodiments, the genes encoding protein agents and/or a specific binding agent to HGF may be in separate vectors.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides for pharmaceutical compositions comprising a specific binding agent to HGF together with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier, solubilizer, emulsifier, preservative and/or adjuvant.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides for pharmaceutical compositions comprising a specific binding agent to HGF and a therapeutically effective amount of at least one additional therapeutic agent, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier, solubilizer, emulsifier, preservative and/or adjuvant.

In certain embodiments, the present invention is directed to therapies comprising a specific binding agent to HGF and at least one serine protease inhibitor, and methods of treatment using such therapies. In certain embodiments, a therapy comprises a specific binding agent to HGF and a serine protease inhibitor and at least one additional molecule described herein.

In certain instances, a disturbance of the protease/protease inhibitor balance can lead to protease-mediated tissue destruction, including, but not limited to, tumor invasion of normal tissue leading to metastasis.

In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent to HGF may be used with at least one therapeutic agent for inflammation. In certain embodiments, an a specific binding agent to HGF may be used with at least one therapeutic agent for an immune disorder. Exemplary therapeutic agents for inflammation and immune disorders include, but are not limited to cyclooxygenase type 1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase type 2 (COX-2) inhibitors small molecule modulators of 38 kDa mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38-MAPK); small molecule modulators of intracellular molecules involved in inflammation pathways, wherein such intracellular molecules include, but are not limited to, jnk, IKK, NF-κB, ZAP70, and Ick. Certain exemplary therapeutic agents for inflammation are described, e.g., in C. A. Dinarello and L. L. Moldawer Proinflammatory and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Primer for Clinicians Third Edition (2001) Amgen Inc. Thousand Oaks, Calif.

In certain embodiments, pharmaceutical compositions will include more than one different a specific binding agent to HGF. In certain embodiments, pharmaceutical compositions will include more than one a specific binding agent to HGF wherein the specific binding agents to HGF bind more than one epitope.

In certain embodiments, acceptable formulation materials preferably are nontoxic to recipients at the dosages and concentrations employed.

In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition may contain formulation materials for modifying, maintaining or preserving, for example, the pH, osmolarity, viscosity, clarity, color, isotonicity, odor, sterility, stability, rate of dissolution or release, adsorption or penetration of the composition. In certain embodiments, suitable formulation materials include, but are not limited to, amino acids (such as glycine, glutamine, asparagine, arginine or lysine); antimicrobials; antioxidants (such as ascorbic acid, sodium sulfite or sodium hydrogen-sulfite); buffers (such as borate, bicarbonate, Tris-HCl, citrates, phosphates or other organic acids); bulking agents (such as mannitol or glycine); chelating agents (such as ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)); complexing agents (such as caffeine, polyvinylpyrrolidone, beta-cyclodextrin or hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin); fillers; monosaccharides; disaccharides; and other carbohydrates (such as glucose, mannose or dextrins); proteins (such as serum albumin, gelatin or immunoglobulins); coloring, flavoring and diluting agents; emulsifying agents; hydrophilic polymers (such as polyvinylpyrrolidone); low molecular weight polypeptides; salt-forming counterions (such as sodium); preservatives (such as benzalkonium chloride, benzoic acid, salicylic acid, thimerosal, phenethyl alcohol, methylparaben, propylparaben, chlorhexidine, sorbic acid or hydrogen peroxide); solvents (such as glycerin, propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol); sugar alcohols (such as mannitol or sorbitol); suspending agents; surfactants or wetting agents (such as pluronics, PEG, sorbitan esters, polysorbates such as polysorbate 20, polysorbate 80, triton, tromethamine, lecithin, cholesterol, tyloxapal); stability enhancing agents (such as sucrose or sorbitol); tonicity enhancing agents (such as alkali metal halides, preferably sodium or potassium chloride, mannitol sorbitol); delivery vehicles; diluents; excipients and/or pharmaceutical adjuvants. (Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18^(th) Edition, A. R. Gennaro, ed., Mack Publishing Company (1990).

In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent to HGF and/or a therapeutic molecule is linked to a half-life extending vehicle known in the art. Such vehicles include, but are not limited to, polyethylene glycol, and dextran. Such vehicles are described, e.g., in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/428,082 and published PCT Application No. WO 99/25044, which are hereby incorporated by reference for any purpose.

In certain embodiments, the optimal pharmaceutical composition will be determined by one skilled in the art depending upon, for example, the intended route of administration, delivery format and desired dosage. See, for example, Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, supra. In certain embodiments, such compositions may influence the physical state, stability, rate of in vivo release and rate of in vivo clearance of the antibodies of the invention.

In certain embodiments, the primary vehicle or carrier in a pharmaceutical composition may be either aqueous or non-aqueous in nature. For example, in certain embodiments, a suitable vehicle or carrier may be water for injection, physiological saline solution or artificial cerebrospinal fluid, possibly supplemented with other materials common in compositions for parenteral administration. In certain embodiments, neutral buffered saline or saline mixed with serum albumin are further exemplary vehicles. In certain embodiments, pharmaceutical compositions comprise Tris buffer of about pH 7.0-8.5, or acetate buffer of about pH 4.0-5.5, which may further include sorbitol or a suitable substitute therefore. In certain embodiments, a composition comprising a specific binding agent to HGF, with or without at least one additional therapeutic agents, may be prepared for storage by mixing the selected composition having the desired degree of purity with optional formulation agents (Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, supra) in the form of a lyophilized cake or an aqueous solution. Further, in certain embodiments, a composition comprising a specific binding agent to HGF, with or without at least one additional therapeutic agents, may be formulated as a lyophilizate using appropriate excipients such as sucrose.

In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention can be selected for parenteral delivery. In certain embodiments, the compositions may be selected for inhalation or for delivery through the digestive tract, such as orally. The preparation of such pharmaceutically acceptable compositions is within the skill of the art.

In certain embodiments, the formulation components are present in concentrations that are acceptable to the site of administration. In certain embodiments, buffers are used to maintain the composition at physiological pH or at a slightly lower pH, typically within a pH range of from about 5 to about 8.

In certain embodiments, when parenteral administration is contemplated, a therapeutic composition may be in the form of a pyrogen-free, parenterally acceptable aqueous solution comprising a desired specific binding agent to HGF, with or without additional therapeutic agents, in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle. In certain embodiments, a vehicle for parenteral injection is sterile distilled water in which a specific binding agent to HGF, with or without at least one additional therapeutic agent, is formulated as a sterile, isotonic solution, properly preserved. In certain embodiments, the preparation can involve the formulation of the desired molecule with an agent, such as injectable microspheres, bio-erodible particles, polymeric compounds (such as polylactic acid or polyglycolic acid), beads or liposomes, that may provide for the controlled or sustained release of the product which may then be delivered via a depot injection. In certain embodiments, hyaluronic acid may also be used, and may have the effect of promoting sustained duration in the circulation. In certain embodiments, implantable drug delivery devices may be used to introduce the desired molecule.

In certain embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition may be formulated for inhalation. In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent to HGF, with or without at least one additional therapeutic agent, may be formulated as a dry powder for inhalation. In certain embodiments, an inhalation solution comprising a specific binding agent to HGF, with or without at least one additional therapeutic agent, may be formulated with a propellant for aerosol delivery. In certain embodiments, solutions may be nebulized. Pulmonary administration is further described in PCT application no. PCT/US94/001875, which describes pulmonary delivery of chemically modified proteins.

In certain embodiments, it is contemplated that formulations may be administered orally. In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent to HGF, with or without at least one additional therapeutic agents, that is administered in this fashion may be formulated with or without those carriers customarily used in the compounding of solid dosage forms such as tablets and capsules. In certain embodiments, a capsule may be designed to release the active portion of the formulation at the point in the gastrointestinal tract when bioavailability is maximized and pre-systemic degradation is minimized. In certain embodiments, at least one additional agent can be included to facilitate absorption of a specific binding agent to HGF and/or any additional therapeutic agents. In certain embodiments, diluents, flavorings, low melting point waxes, vegetable oils, lubricants, suspending agents, tablet disintegrating agents, and binders may also be employed.

In certain embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition may involve an effective quantity of a specific binding agent to HGF, with or without at least one additional therapeutic agents, in a mixture with non-toxic excipients which are suitable for the manufacture of tablets. In certain embodiments, by dissolving the tablets in sterile water, or another appropriate vehicle, solutions may be prepared in unit-dose form. In certain embodiments, suitable excipients include, but are not limited to, inert diluents, such as calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate or bicarbonate, lactose, or calcium phosphate; or binding agents, such as starch, gelatin, or acacia; or lubricating agents such as magnesium stearate, stearic acid, or talc.

Additional pharmaceutical compositions will be evident to those skilled in the art, including formulations involving specific binding agents to HGF, with or without at least one additional therapeutic agents, in sustained- or controlled-delivery formulations. In certain embodiments, techniques for formulating a variety of other sustained- or controlled-delivery means, such as liposome carriers, bio-erodible microparticles or porous beads and depot injections, are also known to those skilled in the art. See for example, PCT Application No. PCT/US93/00829 which describes the controlled release of porous polymeric microparticles for the delivery of pharmaceutical compositions. In certain embodiments, sustained-release preparations may include semipermeable polymer matrices in the form of shaped articles, e.g. films, or microcapsules. Sustained release matrices may include polyesters, hydrogels, polylactides (U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,919 and EP 058,481), copolymers of L-glutamic acid and gamma ethyl-L-glutamate (Sidman et al., Biopolymers, 22:547-556 (1983)), poly(2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate) (Langer et al., J. Biomed. Mater. Res., 15:167-277 (1981) and Langer, Chem. Tech., 12:98-105 (1982)), ethylene vinyl acetate (Langer et al., supra) or poly-D(−)-3-hydroxybutyric acid (EP 133,988). In certain embodiments, sustained release compositions may also include liposomes, which can be prepared by any of several methods known in the art. See, e.g., Eppstein et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 82:3688-3692 (1985); EP 036,676; EP 088,046 and EP 143,949.

The pharmaceutical composition to be used for in vivo administration typically is sterile. In certain embodiments, this may be accomplished by filtration through sterile filtration membranes. In certain embodiments, where the composition is lyophilized, sterilization using this method may be conducted either prior to or following lyophilization and reconstitution. In certain embodiments, the composition for parenteral administration may be stored in lyophilized form or in a solution. In certain embodiments, parenteral compositions generally are placed into a container having a sterile access port, for example, an intravenous solution bag or vial having a stopper pierceable by a hypodermic injection needle.

In certain embodiments, once the pharmaceutical composition has been formulated, it may be stored in sterile vials as a solution, suspension, gel, emulsion, solid, or as a dehydrated or lyophilized powder. In certain embodiments, such formulations may be stored either in a ready-to-use form or in a form (e.g., lyophilized) that is reconstituted prior to administration.

In certain embodiments, the present invention is directed to kits for producing a single-dose administration unit. In certain embodiments, the kits may each contain both a first container having a dried protein and a second container having an aqueous formulation. In certain embodiments of this invention, kits containing single and multi-chambered pre-filled syringes (e.g., liquid syringes and lyosyringes) are included.

In certain embodiments, the effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a specific binding agent to HGF, with or without at least one additional therapeutic agent, to be employed therapeutically will depend, for example, upon the therapeutic context and objectives. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the appropriate dosage levels for treatment, according to certain embodiments, will thus vary depending, in part, upon the molecule delivered, the indication for which a specific binding agent to HGF, with or without at least one additional therapeutic agent, is being used, the route of administration, and the size (body weight, body surface or organ size) and/or condition (the age and general health) of the patient. In certain embodiments, the clinician may titer the dosage and modify the route of administration to obtain the optimal therapeutic effect. In certain embodiments, a typical dosage may range from about 0.1 μg/kg to up to about 100 mg/kg or more, depending on the factors mentioned above. In certain embodiments, the dosage may range from 0.1 μg/kg up to about 100 mg/kg; or 1 μg/kg up to about 100 mg/kg; or 5 μg/kg up to about 100 mg/kg.

In certain embodiments, the frequency of dosing will take into account the pharmacokinetic parameters of a specific binding agent to HGF and/or any additional therapeutic agents in the formulation used. In certain embodiments, a clinician will administer the composition until a dosage is reached that achieves the desired effect. In certain embodiments, the composition may therefore be administered as a single dose, or as two or more doses (which may or may not contain the same amount of the desired molecule) over time, or as a continuous infusion via an implantation device or catheter. Further refinement of the appropriate dosage is routinely made by those of ordinary skill in the art and is within the ambit of tasks routinely performed by them. In certain embodiments, appropriate dosages may be ascertained through use of appropriate dose-response data.

In certain embodiments, the route of administration of the pharmaceutical composition is in accord with known methods, e.g. orally, through injection by intravenous, intraperitoneal, intracerebral (intra-parenchymal), intracerebroventricular, intramuscular, intra-ocular, intraarterial, intraportal, or intralesional routes; by sustained release systems or by implantation devices. In certain embodiments, the compositions may be administered by bolus injection or continuously by infusion, or by implantation device.

In certain embodiments, the composition may be administered locally via implantation of a membrane, sponge or another appropriate material onto which the desired molecule has been absorbed or encapsulated. In certain embodiments, where an implantation device is used, the device may be implanted into any suitable tissue or organ, and delivery of the desired molecule may be via diffusion, timed-release bolus, or continuous administration.

In certain embodiments, it may be desirable to use a pharmaceutical composition comprising a specific binding agent to HGF, with or without at least one additional therapeutic agent, in an ex vivo manner. In such instances, cells, tissues and/or organs that have been removed from the patient are exposed to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a specific binding agent to HGF, with or without at least one additional therapeutic agent, after which the cells, tissues and/or organs are subsequently implanted back into the patient.

In certain embodiments, a specific binding agent to HGF and/or any additional therapeutic agents can be delivered by implanting certain cells that have been genetically engineered, using methods such as those described herein, to express and secrete the polypeptides. In certain embodiments, such cells may be animal or human cells, and may be autologous, heterologous, or xenogeneic. In certain embodiments, the cells may be immortalized. In certain embodiments, in order to decrease the chance of an immunological response, the cells may be encapsulated to avoid infiltration of surrounding tissues. In certain embodiments, the encapsulation materials are typically biocompatible, semi-permeable polymeric enclosures or membranes that allow the release of the protein product(s) but prevent the destruction of the cells by the patient's immune system or by other detrimental factors from the surrounding tissues.

EXAMPLES

The following examples, including the experiments conducted and results achieved, are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention.

Example 1 Generation of Anti-HGF Hybridomas

Antibodies to HGF were raised in XenoMouse® mice (Abgenix, Fremont, Calif.), which are mice containing human immunoglobulin genes. Three groups of XenoMouse® mice, groups 1a, 1b, and 2, were used to produce antibodies to HGF and are summarized in Table 1. Group 1a consisted of mice of the XenoMouse® strain XMG2, which produces fully human IgG2, antibodies. Group 1a mice were immunized with HGF. HGF was prepared using standard recombinant techniques using the sequence in Nakamura et al., Nature 342: 440-443 (1989).

Group 1b also consisted of mice of the XenoMouse® strain XMG2, but Group 1b mice were immunized with HGF that had been chemically conjugated to a T-cell epitope (TCE) having the sequence: Gln Tyr Ile Lys Ala Asn Ser Lys Phe Ile Gly Ile Thr Glu Leu Lys Lys Cys (SEQ ID NO. 47). The TCE was conjugated to HGF by cross-linking through the C-terminal cysteine of TCE to the N-terminus of HGF using Sulpho-SMCC (Pierce, cat#22322) and dithiothreiotol (Fisher Scientific). The resulting conjugated TCE-HGF was separated from unconjugated peptide using a Centricon® column (Amicon).

Group 2 consisted of mice of the XenoMouse® strain XMG1, which produce fully human IgG1_(κ) antibodies. Group 2 mice were immunized with the conjugated TCE-HGF described above.

The mice of all three groups were injected with antigen (either HGF or TCE-HGF) eight times, according to the schedule in Table 1. In the initial immunizations, each mouse was injected with a total of 10 μg of antigen in the hind footpads (5 μg per footpad). Those injections contained the adjuvant TiterMax® Gold (Sigma, Cat # T2684). In injections 2 through 7, each mouse was injected with a total of 5 μg of antigen in the adjuvant alum gel (aluminum phosphate gel adjuvant; Superfos Biosector a/s, distributed by E.M. Sargent Pulp and Chemical Co., Clifton N.J., cat #1452-250). The final injection contained a total of 10 μg of antigen per mouse and did not contain an adjuvant.

TABLE 1 Immunization of Mice Group 1a Group 1b Group 2 Strain XMG2 XMG2 XMG1 # of mice 8 8 10 Antigen HGF HGF-TCE HGF-TCE 1^(st) Injection 10 μg/mouse in 10 μg/mouse in 10 μg/mouse in (day 1) TiterMax Gold TiterMax Gold TiterMax Gold 2nd boost  5 μg/mouse in  5 μg/mouse in  5 μg/mouse in (day 7) Alum Gel Alum Gel Alum Gel 3rd boost  5 μg/mouse in  5 μg/mouse in  5 μg/mouse in (day 9) Alum Gel Alum Gel Alum Gel 4th boost  5 μg/mouse in  5 μg/mouse in  5 μg/mouse in (day 13) Alum Gel Alum Gel Alum Gel 5th boost  5 μg/mouse in  5 μg/mouse in  5 μg/mouse in (day 16) Alum Gel Alum Gel Alum Gel 6th boost  5 μg/mouse in  5 μg/mouse in  5 μg/mouse in (day 20) Alum Gel Alum Gel Alum Gel Bleed (day 22) 7th boost  5 μg/mouse in  5 μg/mouse in  5 μg/mouse in (day 24) Alum Gel Alum Gel Alum Gel 8th boost  5 μg/mouse in D-  5 μg/mouse in D-  5 μg/mouse in (day 27) PBS PBS D-PBS

Each mouse was bled two days after the sixth injection. Blood samples from those bleeds were assayed by ELISA to determine the titer of antibodies to HGF. In those ELISA assays, 96-well plates (Fisher Scientific cat. #12-565-136) were coated with HGF in 0.1 M carbonate buffer (pH 9.6). The blood samples were added and the plates were incubated for two hours at room temperature. After incubation, the plates were washed three times with washing solution (0.05% Tween 20 in PBS) and 100 μl/well of secondary antibody was added. The secondary antibody was goat anti-human IgGFc antibody conjugated with horse radish peroxidase (Southern Biotech cat. #9060-05). After incubation for 1 hour at room temperature, the plates were washed and 100 μl/well of TMB developing solution (BioFX Lab Cat. # TMSK-0100-01) was added. After 10 minutes, 50 μl/well of TMB stop solution (BioFX Lab Cat. # STPR-0100-01) was added. The plates were read on an ELISA plate reader at wavelength 450 nm.

Four days after the final injection, the mice were sacrificed and their draining lymph nodes were harvested and the lymphocytes were recovered. Lymphocytes from the mice of each of the three groups were separately pooled. To enrich the lymphocyte samples for B-cells, T-cells were depleted by adding anti-CD90 magnetic beads (Miltenyi Biotech cat. #491-01) and then passing the lymphoscytes through an LS⁺ column (Miltenyi Biotech cat. #424-01).

Each of the three samples of B-cell enriched lymphocytes was then fused with P3 myeloma cells using an electrocell fusion device (Genetronic, Inc., Model ECM 2001) to create hybridomas. The three groups of fused hybridoma lines were then plated in 96-well plates at a density of 1×10⁶ input B-cell enriched lymphocytes per well in hybridoma media (for components see Table 2) containing hypoxantinine-azaserine (Sigma). The hybridoma lines were cultured for 14 days at 37° C., in 15% CO₂.

After 14 days, culture supernatants were assayed by ELISA to detect the presence of human IgG antibodies to HGF using the same protocol as was used to assay the blood samples, described above. Culture supernatants that tested positive in that ELISA were tested for the presence of human kappa chain in a second ELISA. In that second ELISA, the conditions were identical to the first ELISA, except that the secondary antibody was a goat anti-human kappa chain antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase. Hybridomas that tested positive in both ELISA assays were further expanded to produce 5 ml of supernatant for in vitro functional testing, which is discussed in Examples 8 and 9. Supernatants from 82 clones corresponding to mice from group 1a, 42 clones corresponding to mice from group 1b, and 176 clones corresponding to mice from group 2 were tested.

Based on the results of those functional assays, several hybridoma lines were identified as producing antibodies to HGF. Limiting dilution was used to isolate three to six clones from each line. The clones were designated by hybridoma line number (e.g. 1.24) and clone number (e.g. 1.24.1). No difference among the different clones of a particular line have been detected by the functional assays discussed in Examples 8 and 9. Those isolated clones were each expanded in 50-100 ml of hybridoma media and allowed to grow to exhaustion, (i.e., less than about 10% cell viability). The concentration and potency of the antibodies to HGF in the supernatants of those cultures were determined by ELISA and by in vitro functional testing, as discussed in Examples 8 and 9. The ten hybridomas with the highest titer of Antibodies to HGF were identified. Those hybridomas were designated 1.24.1, 1.29.1, 1.60.1, 1.61.3, 1.74.3, 1.75.1, 2.4.4, 2.12.1, 2.40.1, and 3.10.1.

TABLE 2 Composition of Media Component Source Hybridoma Media DMEM Gibco 15% Fetal Bovine Serum Hyclone, cat # SH 30070.03 1% 200 mM L-glutamine Sigma, cat # G2150 1% 100X non-essential Sigma cat # M 7145 amino acids 1% 100X pen/strep Sigma Cat# P7539 (10,000 U/ml penicillin/10 mg/ml streptomycin) 10 U/ml IL-6 Boehringer Mannheim, cat. # 1299972 1 vial/L OPI media Sigma, cat # O 5003 Supplement (oxaloacetate, pyruvate, bovine insulin) HSFM MEDIA HSFM Gibco, Cat # 12045-076 10% Ultra Low IgG Gibco Cat# 16250-078 serum 2 mmol/L L-glutamine JRH 200 mM Cat# 59202 1% 100X non-essential JRH 100X Cat# 58572 amino acids 1% 100X pen/strep Gemini Cat# 400-109 INTEGRA MEDIA HSFM Gibco, Cat # 12045-076 10% Ultra Low IgG Gibco Cat# 16250-078 serum 2 mmol/L L-glutamine JRH 200 mM Cat# 59202 1% NEAA JRH 100X Cat# 58572 4 g/L glucose JT Baker Cat # 1920-07

Example 2 Production of Antibodies from the Hybridomas

Antibodies were prepared from the ten hybridomas discussed in Example 1 using one of two different systems: Integra flasks and sparged spinners.

Integra Flasks

Seven hybridoma lines, 2.12.1, 1.24.2, 1.29.1, 1.74.1, 1.75.1, 1.60.2, and 2.40.1, were each separately grown in T75 flasks in 20 ml of HSFM media (see Table 2 for media components). When the hybridomas were nearly confluent in the T75 flasks, they were transferred to Integra flasks (Integra Biosciences, Integra CL1000, cat#90 005).

The Integra flask is a cell culture flask that is divided by a membrane into two chambers, a small chamber and a large chamber. A volume of 20-30 ml Hybridoma cells at a minimum cell density of 1×10⁶ cells per ml from each of the seven hybridoma lines were placed into the small chamber of seven Integra flasks in Integra media (see Table 2 for components of Integra media). Integra media alone (1 L) was placed in the large chambers of the Integra flasks. The membrane separating the two chambers is permeable to small molecular weight nutrients but is impermeable to hybridoma cells and to antibodies produced by those cells. Thus, the hybridoma cells and the antibodies produced by those hybridoma cells were retained in the small chamber.

After one week, media was removed from both chambers of each of the seven Integra flasks and was replaced with fresh Integra media. The collected media from the seven small chambers were separately retained. After a second week of growth, the media from the small chambers was again collected. The collected media from week 1 from each hybridoma line was combined with the collected media from week 2 from the same hybridoma line. The resulting seven collected media samples from the seven hybridoma lines were spun to remove cells and debris (15 minutes at 3000 rpm) and the resulting supernatants were filtered (0.22 um).

Sparged Spinner Flasks (3 L)

Three hybridoma lines, 3.10.1, 2.4.4, and 2.12.1 were separately grown in T75 flasks in 20 ml of HSFM medium. When the hybridomas reached sufficient cell density, they were transferred to T175 flasks. Likewise, when the hybridomas reached sufficient cell density in the T175 flasks, they were transferred to 100 ml spinner flasks and then to 500 ml spinner flasks, and then to 1 L spinner flasks. When the cells reached sufficient cell density in the 1 L spinner flasks, they were transferred to 3 L sparged spinner flasks (Bellco Biotechnology, cat #1965-300, with sidearm fitting, cat #1965-30003).

The 3 L sparged spinner flask is a glass vessel where cultures are mixed with an impeller controlled by a magnetic platform. The spinner is connected to gas line to provide 5% CO₂ and air.

Hybridoma 3.10.1

Two 3 L sparged spinner flasks were seeded with hybridoma cells from hybridoma line 3.10.1 in HSFM media with the additions noted in Table 3, which summarizes the growth conditions for those two sparged flasks.

TABLE 3 Conditions for Growing Hybridoma 3.10.1. Conditions Spinner1 Spinner2 Seeding density (10E6 cells/ml)  0.46  0.46 HSFM (Gibco cat# 12045-076) X X Ultra low IgG serum (Gibco cat# 16250-078) 5% 5% L glutamine (JRH cat# 59202-500M) 8 mmol/L 2 mmol/L P/S (Gemini cat# 400-109) 1% 1% NEAA (JRH cat# 58572-77P) 1% 1% Peptone (Difco, cat # 211693) 1 g/L 1 g/L 2M glucose (JT Baker, cat # 1920-07) 8 g/L 2 g/L Antifoam C (Sigma cat # A-8011) 2 ml/L 2 ml/L Productivity (μg/ml) 24 34

The cultures were grown for 15 days and were harvested when the viability was below 20%, as determined by trypan blue exclusion. Harvesting consisted of centrifugation for 15 minutes at 7000 rpm and subsequent filtration of the resulting supernatant through a 0.22 μm filter. Productivity was determined by measuring the amount of protein present in the final harvested samples by protein A HPLC and is reported in Table 3.

Hybridoma 2.4.4

Five 3 L sparged spinner flasks were seeded with hybridoma cells from hybridoma line 2.4.4 in HSFM media with the additions noted in Table 4, which summarizes the growth conditions for those five sparged flasks.

TABLE 4 Conditions for Growing Hybridoma 2.4.4. Conditions Spinner1 Spinner2 Spinner3 Spinner4 Spinner5 Seeding density (10E6  0.3  0.3  0.18  0.18  0.4 cells/ml) HSFM (Gibco cat# 12045- X X X X X 076) Ultra low IgG serum (Gibco 5% 5% 5% 5% 5% cat# 16250-078) L glutamine (JRH cat# 8 mmol/L 2 mmol/L 2 mmol/L 8 mmol/L 4 mmol/L 59202-500M) P/S (Gemini cat# 400-109) 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% NEAA (JRH cat# 58572-77P) 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% Peptone 1 g/L 1 g/L 1 g/L 1 g/L 1 g/L 2M glucose 8 g/L 2 g/L 2 g/L 8 g/L 4 g/L Antifoam C 2 ml/L 2 ml/L 2 ml/L 2 ml/L 2 ml/L Productivity (ug/ml) 41 82 38 45 79 Culture duration (days) 10 10  7  7  8

The cultures were grown for 7, 8, or 10 days as indicated in Table 4, and harvested when cell viability was below 20%, as described above.

Hybridoma 2.12.1

Six 3 L sparged spinner flasks were seeded with hybridoma cells from hybridoma line 2.12.1 in HSFM media with the additions noted in Table 5, which summarizes the growth conditions for those six sparged spinner flasks.

TABLE 5 Conditions for Growing Hybridoma 2.12.1. Conditions Spinner 1 Spinner 2 Spinner 3 Spinner 4 Spinner 5 Spinner 6 Seeding density 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 (10E6 cells/ml) HSFM (Gibco cat# X X X X X X 12045-076) Ultra low IgG serum 5% 5% 5% 5% 5% 5% (Gibco cat# 16250-078) L glutamine (JRH 2 mmol/L 8 mmol/L 4 mmol/L 4 mmol/L 4 mmol/L 4 mmol/L cat# 59202-500M) P/S (Gemini cat# 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 400-109) NEAA (JRH cat# 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 58572-77P) Peptone 1 g/L 1 g/L 1 g/L 1 g/L 1 g/L 1 g/L 2M glucose 2 g/L 8 g/L 4 g/L 4 g/L 4 g/L 4 g/L Antifoam C 2 ml/L 2 ml/L 2 ml/L 2 ml/L 2 ml/L 2 ml/L Productivity (μg/ml) 44 49 65 65 65 65 Culture duration (days) 7 7 11 11 11 11

Cultures were grown for 7 or 11 days, as indicated in Table 5, and were harvested when the viability was below 20%, as described above.

Example 3 Cloning and Sequence Analysis of Antibody Heavy and Light Chains A. Cloning of Light Chains

Ten hybridomas (1.24.1, 1.29.1, 1.60.1, 1.61.3, 1.74.3, 1.75.1, 2.4.4, 2.12.1, 2.40.1, and 3.10.1) were identified as expressing monoclonal antibodies to HGF, as discussed in Example 1. Total RNA was isolated from each of those ten hybridomas using TRIzol® reagent (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). The 5′-ends of those ten total RNA preparations were adapted for 5′ Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE) using the GeneRacer® Kit (Invitrogen). Those ten 5′-modified RNA preparations were then used in ten separate RACE reactions, each using a random primer with an extension adapter (5′-GGC CGG ATA GGC CTC CAN NNN NNT-3′) (SEQ ID NO: 48), to generate ten cDNA molecules.

The ten cDNA molecules were then amplified in separate polymerase chain reactions (PCR) to generate ten amplified kappa light chain sequences. For each of those reactions, the forward primer was the forward GeneRacer™ nested primer (5′ GGA CAC TGA CAT GGA CTG AAG GAG TA-3′) (SEQ ID NO: 49). The reverse primer (5′-GGG GTC AGG CTG GAA CTG AGG-3′) (SEQ ID NO 50) was designed to bind to the sequence complementary to the kappa light chain.

Each of the ten amplified kappa light chain sequences was then separately ligated into separate pCR4-TOPO plasmids (Invitrogen). The ten resulting plasmids, each containing one of the ten kappa light chain sequences, were then separately amplified in bacteria and several clones of each were sequenced. Those sequences were used to design PCR primers to amplify the ten kappa light chain open reading frame sequences from the cloned plasmids as follows.

The primer sets for each of the ten PCRs comprised a 5′-primer and a 3′-primer. Each 5′-primer comprised a portion complementary to the sequence of the amino terminus of the particular kappa light chain sequence, an optimized Kozak sequence, and one or more restriction sites. For example, the sequence of the 5′-primer used in the reaction with the plasmid ultimately derived from hybridoma 3.10.1 was:

(SEQ ID: 51) 5′- ACA ACA AAG CTT CTA GAC CAC CAT GGA AGC CCC                    XbaI   Kozak AGC TCA GCT TCT CTT -3′ The 3′-primer for each of the PCRs comprised a portion complementary to the carboxyl terminus of the sequence of the particular kappa light chain sequence, including the termination codon and a restriction site. For example, the sequence of the 3′-primer used in the reaction with the plasmid ultimately derived from hybridoma 3.10.1 was:

(SEQ ID NO: 52) 5′-CTT GTC GAC TCA ACA CTC TCC CCT GTT GAA GCT        SalI     * C -3′

Separate primer sets were used in separate PCR reactions with the corresponding cloned plasmids to amplify the ten kappa light chain coding region sequences. The ten amplification products from those reactions were separately gel isolated and purified using a QIAquick® Gel Extraction kit (Catalog No. 28704, Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.). Those purified products were then each cut with the appropriate restriction enzymes to obtain the kappa light chain coding region sequences free from the plasmid. For example, the purified product corresponding to hybridoma 3.10.1 was cut with XbaI and SalI, the sites which were introduced by the primers during PCR amplification of that cloned plasmid, as discussed above. The resulting restriction digested kappa light chain coding region sequences were again separately gel isolated and purified using a QIAquick® Gel Extraction kit (Catalog No. 28704, Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.).

Those ten purified restriction digested kappa light chain coding region sequences were then each separately ligated into mammalian expression vector, pDSRα20 (WO 90/14363), to create ten separate kappa light chain expression vectors corresponding to the ten original hybridomas. The ten kappa light chain expression vector inserts were then sequenced. The pDSRα20 expression vector containing the kappa light chain coding region ultimately derived from hybridoma 3.10.1 (pDSRα20:3.10.1) was confirmed to comprise 5473 base pairs including a 719 base pair PCR fragment, which encoded the 235 amino acid residues (including the 20 amino acid kappa chain signal sequence) of the 3.10.1 kappa light chain. That expression vector comprised seven functional regions, as described in Table 6.

TABLE 6 Expression Vector pDSRα20:3.10.1kappa Plasmid Base Pair Number:  2 to 881 A transcription termination/polyadenylation signal from the α-subunit of the bovine pituitary glycoprotein hormone (α-FSH) (Goodwin, et al., 1983, Nucleic Acids Res. 11: 6873-82; Genbank Accession Number X00004)  882 to 2027 A mouse dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) minigene containing the endogenous mouse DHFR promoter, the cDNA coding sequences, and the DHFR transcription termination/polyadenylation signals (Gasser et al, 1982, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79: 6522-6; Nunberg et al., 1980, Cell 19: 355-64; Setzer et al., 1982, J. Biol. Chem. 257: 5143-7; McGrogan et al., 1985, J. Biol. Chem. 260: 2307-14) 2031 to 3947 pBR322 sequences containing the ampicillin resistance marker gene and the origin for replication of the plasmid in E. coli (Genbank Accession Number J01749) 3949 to 4292 An SV40 early promoter, enhancer and origin of replication (Takebe et al., 1988, Mol. Cell Biol. 8: 466-72, Genbank Accession Number J02400) 4299 to 4565 A translational enhancer element from the HTLV-1 LTR domain (Seiki et al., 1983, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80: 3618-22, Genbank Accession Number J02029) 4574 to 4730 An intron from the SV40 16S, 19S splice donor/acceptor signals (Okayama and Berg, 1983. Mol. Cell Biol. 3: 280-9, Genbank Accession Number J02400) 4755 to 5473 The 3.10.1 kappa light chain cDNA between the XbaI and SalI sites

B. Cloning of the Heavy Chains

The variable region of the heavy chains of the antibodies to HGF from the ten hybridomas were cloned using the same methods as those used for the light chains discussed above in Example 3A. Total RNA from each of the ten hybridomas was isolated, 5′-modified for RACE, and used to generate cDNA molecules as described above in Example 3A.

Those ten cDNA molecules were amplified in separate PCR reactions as discussed for the light chains in Example 3A, except the reverse primer (5′-GGA CAC TGA CAT GGA CTG AAG GAG TA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 53)) was designed to bind to the complementary sequence of the heavy chain variable region. The forward primer was again the forward GeneRacer™ nested primer (5′ GGA CAC TGA CAT GGA CTG AAG GAG TA-3′) (SEQ ID NO: 49).

Each of the ten amplified heavy chain variable region sequences were separately ligated into separate pCR4-TOPO plasmids. The ten resulting plasmids, each containing one of the ten heavy chain variable region sequences, were then separately amplified in bacteria and several clones of each were sequenced as described above for the light chains in Example 3A. Those sequences were used to design PCR primers for amplifying each of the heavy chain variable regions from the cloned plasmids as follows.

The primer sets for each of the ten PCRs were designed using the same strategy as used for the light chains, discussed above in Example 3A. Each 5′-primer comprised a portion complementary to the sequence of the amino terminus of the particular heavy chain variable region sequence, an optimized Kozak sequence, and one or more restriction sites. For example, the sequence of the 5′-primer used for amplifying the heavy chain variable region ultimately derived from hybridoma 3.10.1 was:

(SEQ ID NO: 54) 5′- AGC AGA AGC TTC TAG ACC ACC ATG AAA CAC CTG                   XbaI   Kozak TGG TTC TTC CTC CTC -3′

The 3′-primer for each of the ten PCRs comprised a portion complementary to the carboxyl terminus of the consensus sequence of the particular heavy chain variable region sequence, including a termination codon and a restriction site. For example the sequence of the 3′-primer used for amplifying the heavy chain variable region ultimately derived from hybridoma 3.10.1 was:

(SEQ ID NO: 55) 5′-GTG GAG GCA CTA GAG ACG GTG ACC AGG GTT CC- 3′                     BsmBI

Separate primer sets were used in separate PCR reactions with the corresponding cloned plasmids to amplify the ten heavy chain variable region sequences. The ten amplification products from those reactions were separately gel isolated and purified using a QUIAquick Gel Extraction kit and cut with the appropriate restriction enzymes as described for the light chains in Example 3A. The resulting restriction digested heavy chain variable region sequences were again separately gel isolated and purified using a QUIAquick Gel Extraction kit as described in Example 3A.

Three of those ten purified restriction digested heavy chain variable region sequences, those ultimately derived from hybridoma 3.10.1, 1.24.1, and 2.4.4, were then separately ligated into mammalian expression vector pDSRα20:hIgGC_(H) to create three heavy chain IgG1 expression vectors. The pDSRα20:hIgGC_(H) expression vector is the same as pDSRα20 except that it also contains the IgG1 constant region sequence. The pDSRα20:hIgGC_(H) expression vector is summarized in Table 7.

TABLE 7 Expression Vector pDSRα20: hIgGC_(H) Plasmid Base Pair Number:   2 to 881 A transcription termination/polyadenylation signal from the α-subunit of the bovine pituitary glycoprotein hormone (α-FSH) (Goodwin, et al., 1983, Nucleic Acids Res. 11: 6873-82; Genbank Accession Number X00004)  882 to 2027 A mouse dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) minigene containing the endogenous mouse DHFR promoter, the cDNA coding sequences, and the DHFR transcription termination/ polyadenylation signals (Gasser et al, 1982, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79: 6522-6; Nunberg et al., 1980, Cell 19: 355-64; Setzer et al., 1982, J. Biol. Chem. 257: 5143-7; McGrogan et al., 1985, J. Biol. Chem. 260: 2307-14) 2031 to 3947 pBR322 sequences containing the ampicillin resistance marker gene and the origin for replication of the plasmid in E. coli (Genbank Accession Number J01749) 3949 to 4292 An SV40 early promoter, enhancer and origin of replication (Takebe et al., 1988, Mol. Cell Biol. 8: 466-72, Genbank Accession Number J02400) 4299 to 4565 A translational enhancer element from the HTLV-1 LTR domain (Seiki et al., 1983, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80: 3618-22, Genbank Accession Number J02029) 4574 to 4730 An intron from the SV40 16S, 19S splice donor/acceptor signals (Okayama and Berg, 1983. Mol. Cell Biol. 3: 280-9, Genbank Accession Number J02400) 4755 to 5791 The pl/hCh1 heavy chain cDNA between the XbaI and SalI sites. The sequences of which follows:  XbaI                             BsmBI TCTAGA CCACCGCCATGGGTGAAAATTGAAT CGTCTC TA GTGCCTCCACCAAGGGCCCA TCGGTCTTCC CCCTGGCACC CTCCTCCAAG AGCACCTCTGGGGGCACAGC GGCCCTGGGC TGCCTGGTCA AGGACTACTT CCCCGAACCG GTGACGGTGT CGTGGAACTC AGGCGCCCTG ACCAGCGGCG TGCACACCTT CCCGGCTGTC CTACAGTCCT CAGGACTCTA CTCCCTCAGC AGCGTGGTGACCGTGCCCTC CAGCAGCTTG GGCACCCAGA  CCTACATCTG CAACGTGAATCACAAGCCCA GCAACACCAA GGTGGACAAG AAAGTTGAGC CCAAATCTTG TGACAAAACT CACACATGCC CACCGTGCCC AGCACCTGAA CTCCTGGGGG GACCGTCAGT CTTCCTCTTC CCCCCAAAAC CCAAGGACAC CCTCATGATC TCCCGGACCC CTGAGGTCAC ATGCGTGGTG GTGGACGTGA GCCACGAAGACCCTGAGGTC AAGTTCAACT GGTACGTGGA CGGCGTGGAG GTGCATAATG CCAAGACAAA GCCGCGGGAG GAGCAGTACA  ACAGCACGTA CCGTGTGGTC AGCGTCCTCA CCGTCCTGCA  CCAGGACTGG CTGAATGGCA AGGAGTACAAGTGCAAGGTC TCCAACAAAG CCCTCCCAGC CCCCATCGAG AAAACCATCTCCAAAGCCAA AGGGCAGCCC CGAGAACCAC AGGTGTACAC CCTGCCCCCA TCCCGGGATG AGCTGACCAA GAACCAGGTC AGCCTGACCT GCCTGGTCAA AGGCTTCTAT CCCAGCGACA TCGCCGTGGA GTGGGAGAGC AATGGGCAGCCGGAGAACAA CTACAAGACC ACGCCTCCCG  TGCTGGACTC CGACGGCTCC TTCTTCCTCT ATAGCAAGCT CACCGTGGAC AAGAGCAGGT GGCAGCAGGG GAACGTCTTC TCATGCTCCG TGATGCATGA GGCTCTGCAC AACCACTACA CGCAGAAGAG CCTCTCCCTG TCTCCGGGTA           SalI AATGATAA GT CGAC  (SEQ ID NO: 56)

The heavy chain variable regions of the three IgG1 expression vector inserts were sequenced. The pDSRα20:hIgGC_(H) expression vector containing the heavy chain variable region ultimately derived from hybridoma 3.10.1 (pDSRα20:hIgGC_(H):3.10.1) is summarized in Table 8.

TABLE 8 Expression Vector pDSRα20:hIgGC_(H):3.10.1 Plasmid Base Pair Number:  2 to 881 A transcription termination/polyadenylation signal from the α-subunit of the bovine pituitary glycoprotein hormone (α-FSH) (Goodwin, et al., 1983, Nucleic Acids Res. 11: 6873-82; Genbank Accession Number X00004)  882 to 2027 A mouse dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) minigene containing the endogenous mouse DHFR promoter, the cDNA coding sequences, and the DHFR transcription termination/polyadenylation signals (Gasser et al, 1982, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79: 6522-6; Nunberg et al., 1980, Cell 19: 355-64; Setzer et al., 1982, J. Biol. Chem. 257: 5143-7; McGrogan et al., 1985, J. Biol. Chem. 260: 2307-14) 2031 to 3947 pBR322 sequences containing the ampicillin resistance marker gene and the origin for replication of the plasmid in E. coli (Genbank Accession Number J01749) 3949 to 4292 An SV40 early promoter, enhancer and origin of replication (Takebe et al., 1988, Mol. Cell Biol. 8: 466-72, Genbank Accession Number J02400) 4299 to 4565 A translational enhancer element from the HTLV-1 LTR domain (Seiki et al., 1983, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80: 3618-22, Genbank Accession Number J02029) 4574 to 4730 An intron from the SV40 16S, 19S splice donor/acceptor signals (Okayama and Berg, 1983. Mol. Cell Biol. 3: 280-9, Genbank Accession Number J02400) 4755 to 6178 The 3.10.1 heavy chain IgG1 cDNA between the XbaI and SalI sites

Each of the ten purified heavy chain variable region sequences were separately ligated into a pDSRα20 mammalian expression vector along with sequences encoding the IgG2 constant region to create ten IgG2 expression vectors. Each of the ten resulting IgG2 expression vectors (designated pDSRα20:hIgG2:hybirdoma #) comprised sequences encoding the constant region of IgG2 and one of the ten heavy chain variable region sequences. The ten heavy chain variable region sequence inserts were sequenced to confirm that they comprised the same heavy chain variable region sequences that were identified in the cloned plasmids from the pCR4-TOPO clones. The pDSRα20:hIgG2 expression vector containing the heavy chain variable region ultimately derived from hybridoma 2.12.1 (pDSRα20:hIgG2:2.12.1) is summarized in Table 9.

TABLE 9 Expression Vector pDSRα20:IgG2:2.12.1 Plasmid Base Pair Number:  2 to 881 A transcription termination/polyadenylation signal from the α-subunit of the bovine pituitary glycoprotein hormone (α-FSH) (Goodwin, et al., 1983, Nucleic Acids Res. 11: 6873-82; Genbank Accession Number X00004)  882 to 2027 A mouse dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) minigene containing the endogenous mouse DHFR promoter, the cDNA coding sequences, and the DHFR transcription termination/polyadenylation signals (Gasser et al, 1982, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79: 6522-6; Nunberg et al., 1980, Cell 19: 355-64; Setzer et al., 1982, J. Biol. Chem. 257: 5143-7; McGrogan et al., 1985, J. Biol. Chem. 260: 2307-14) 2031 to 3947 pBR322 sequences containing the ampicillin resistance marker gene and the origin for replication of the plasmid in E. coli (Genbank Accession Number J01749) 3949 to 4292 An SV40 early promoter, enhancer and origin of replication (Takebe et al., 1988, Mol. Cell Biol. 8: 466-72, Genbank Accession Number J02400) 4299 to 4565 A translational enhancer element from the HTLV-1 LTR domain (Seiki et al., 1983, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80: 3618-22, Genbank Accession Number J02029) 4574 to 4730 An intron from the SV40 16S, 19S splice donor/acceptor signals (Okayama and Berg, 1983. Mol. Cell Biol. 3: 280-9, Genbank Accession Number J02400) 4755 to 6166 The 2.12.1 heavy chain IgG2 cDNA between the XbaI and SalI sites

The cDNA sequences for the kappa light chain variable regions (SEQ ID NOs.: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19), the kappa light chain constant region (SEQ ID NO: 21), the heavy chain variable regions (SEQ ID NOs.: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20), and the IgG1 and IgG2 heavy chain constant regions (SEQ ID NOs: 22 and 23) are shown in FIGS. 3A to 3E.

The polypeptide sequences predicted from each of those cDNA sequences were determined. The predicted polypeptide sequences for the kappa light chain variable regions (SEQ ID NOs: 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, and 42), the kappa light chain constant region (SEQ ID NO 44), the heavy chain variable regions (SEQ. ID NOs. 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, and 43), and the IgG1 and IgG2 heavy chain constant regions (SEQ ID NOs: 45 and 46) are shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C.

Based on the sequence data, the germline genes from which each heavy chain or light chain variable region was derived was determined. The identity of the germline genes are indicated next to the corresponding hybridoma line in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4. Further analysis of the relatedness of the sequences (FIGS. 1B and 2B) led to the dendrograms displayed in FIG. 1A (kappa light chain variable regions) and FIG. 2A (heavy chain variable regions).

Example 4 Transient Expression in 293T Cells

In ten separate co-transfections, 293T cells were co-transfected with a pDSRα20 expression vector comprising a kappa light chain sequence described in Example 3A (light chain vector) and a pDSRα20 expression vector comprising a heavy chain sequence described in Example 3B (heavy chain vector). In those ten separate co-transfections, 293T cells were co-transfected with both the light chain vector and the heavy chain vector ultimately derived from one of the hybridomas discussed in Example 1. Specifically, for the co-transfection of the vector ultimately derived from hybridoma 3.10.1, the heavy chain vector comprising IgG1 (pDSRα20:hIgGC_(H):3.10.1) was used. For the co-transfections of the vectors ultimately derived from the other nine hybridomas, the heavy chain comprising IgG2 (pDSRα20:hIgG2:hybirdoma #) was used. The co-transfections were performed using either Fugene 6 or X-TremeGene RO-1539 (both from Roche Molecular Biochemicals, Indianapolis, Ind.) following the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Co-transfections were first conducted using adherent 293T cells in standard roller bottles. The roller bottles were seeded with 4×10⁷ to 5×10⁷ cells per roller bottle in DMEM containing 5% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) (Hyclone, cat #SH 30070.03), 1× non-essential amino acids (Sigma, cat #M 7145), 1× penicillin/streptomycin (Sigma, cat #P7539 (10,000 U/ml penicillin/streptomycin)), and 1× sodium pyruvate (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). When the cells reached 60-70% confluency, the heavy chain vector and light chain vector ultimately derived from a particular hybridoma were co-transfected into the cells for 24 hours, after which the media was changed to the same media lacking serum. The serum-free media was collected and replaced with fresh serum-free media two times, at 48 and 96 hours post-transfection, yielding a total volume of 1.25 L of collected serum-free media.

The ten separate co-transfections were repeated using serum-free adapted 293T cells in suspension in the same media discussed above lacking serum. The heavy chain vectors and light chain vectors corresponding to a particular hybridoma were co-transfected into the cells in a culture volume of 500 mL. The transfected cells were incubated for 7 days, after which the serum-free conditioned medium was collected.

Example 5 Antibody Expression and Cloning of CHO Cells

Chinese hamster ovary cells deficient in DHFR (CHOd⁻) were used to generate stable expression of recombinant antibodies to HGF. In ten separate co-transfections, CHOd⁻ cells were co-transfected with both the heavy chain vector and the light chain vector ultimately derived from one of the hybridomas discussed in Example 1, as discussed in Example 4. The co-transfections were achieved using a standard calcium phosphate method.

Transfected cells from each of the ten co-transfections were separately grown in selection media containing high glucose DMEM lacking hypoxanthine-thymidine (Gibco/BRL, Carlsbad, Calif. Cat #11965) with 5% dialyzed fetal bovine serum. Such media lacking hypoxanthine-thymidine selects for growth of cells expressing the recombinant DHFR enzyme. Media from each of the grown transfectants was screened using standard ELISA assays to detect the presence of the human antibodies.

Example 6 Expression of Antibodies to HGF in CHOd⁻ Clones

Six samples of each of the ten different stable CHOd⁻ clones described in Example 5, each different clone expressing one of the ten different antibodies to HGF, were separately grown in growth media. The growth media was DMEM with high glucose (Gibco/BRL, Carlsbad, Calif. Cat #11965), supplemented with 5% dialyzed FBS, non-essential amino acids and L-glutamine (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, Calif.). The cells were grown at 37° C. under 5% CO2.

When the CHOd⁻ clones reached the six-well stage of growth, 10 nM methotrexate was added to the growth media to amplify expression of the antibodies. After the cells became confluent, they were moved to 100 mm dishes. The methotrexate concentration was stepped up from 10 nM to 20 nM, to 50 nM, to 100 nM, to 250 nm, to 500 nM, to 1 μM, to 2 μM, to 4 μM, and finally to 10 μM. The cells were kept at each concentration for a minimum of one week and until they had sufficiently adapted to a given concentration of methotrexate, as determined visually.

Conditioned media from each of the clones was assayed at each methotrexate concentration to determine the expression level of each antibody to HGF. The media was assayed by standard ELISA and time-resolved fluorescence (TRF) sandwich assays to semi-quantitatively measure binding of the antibodies to HGF to human HGF-coated plates.

Methotreaxate amplified clones with the highest antibody expression levels were adapted to grow in serum free production medium as follows. Clones were trypsinized from the culture vessel, centrifuged and resuspended in 50 ml of serum free production medium at 4×10⁵ cells/ml in a 250 ml solid cap shake flask. Cultures were incubated in a warm room at 37° C. and stirred at approximately 125 RPM. Every 3-4 days, the cells were spun down and diluted to 4×10⁵ cells/ml with fresh serum free production medium. Fresh serum free production medium was added approximately ten times for each of the cultures to complete this adaptation phase.

Example 7 Antibody Purification from Recombinant Cell Conditioned Media

Media was collected from the hybridomas described in Example 1, from the transient expression 293 T cells described in Example 4, from the stable transfectants described in Example 5, and from the methotrexate amplified clones described in Example 6. Media from each of those sources was separately concentrated about 10-fold using a YM30 spiral wound cartridge (Milipore, Bedford, Mass. Cat #S10Y30) following instructions provided by the manufacturer. The concentration of antibody present in each concentrated media sample was estimated by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).

Antibodies were purified from the concentrated media samples by affinity resin purification using recombinant Protein A Sepharose (rProA) (Amersham, Piscataway, N.J., Cat #17-1279-03). The rProA was first washed four times with phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Following the last wash, a slurry of washed rProA in PBS was made by mixing an equal volume of rProA and PBS. That rProA slurry was added to each concentrated media sample at an amount of approximately 1 μl of rProA slurry for each 5 μg of antibody in the media sample, but not less than 50 μl of rProA slurry for any media sample. The resulting media/slurry samples were incubated overnight at 4° C. with shaking. The media/slurry samples were then centrifuged to pellet the rProA. The supernatant fractions containing unbound proteins were discarded. The rProA pellets were separately resuspended in 0.5 ml PBS each. The resuspended rProA samples were then transferred to 0.45 μM Spin-X tubes (CoStar, Corning N.Y., Cat #8162) and spun to remove the PBS. The rProA in the Spin-X-tubes was then washed 3 times with 0.5 ml PBS per wash.

Antibody fractions were eluted from the rProA in the Spin-X tubes by adding 1.5 volumes of 0.1 M glycine, pH 2.7, and incubating for 10 minutes at room temperature. The Spin-X tubes were then centrifuged and the eluates from each Spin-X tube were separately collected. Elution was repeated and the two eluates from each Spin-X tube were pooled. The pH of the pooled eluates was neutralized with 1/25^(th) volume of 1.0 M Tris, pH 9.2. Each sample was then filtered through a new Spin-X tube to remove particulates.

The protein concentration of the final preparations was determined by Bradford assay using human IgG as the standard. To assess purity, samples of each of the final preparations were separately run on separate lanes of an SDS-PAGE gel, stained with coomassie and was inspected visually.

Example 8 Characterization of Binding of Antibodies to HGF

A. Affinity Measurements

Using a BIAcore®3000 (Biacore, Inc., Piscataway, N.J.) affinity analysis of six of the antibodies to HGF described in Example 6 (those ultimately derived from hybridomas 3.10.1, 2.4.4, 2.12.1, 1.29.1, 1.75.1, and 1.74.3) was performed according to the manufacturer's instructions. The running buffer for those analyses was PBS with 0.005% P20 surfactant (BIAcore, Inc. Piscataway, N.J.). Recombinant Protein G (Pierce, Rockford, Ill.) was immobilized to a research grade CM5 sensor chip (Biacore, Inc. Piscataway, N.J.) via primary amine groups using the Amine Coupling Kit (Biacore, Inc. Piscataway, N.J.), according to the manufacturer's instructions.

In six separate samples, about 200 resonance units (RU) of each of the six antibodies to HGF was separately attached to immobilized Protein G following the manufacturer's instructions. Samples comprising various concentrations (0-100 nM) of human HGF were injected over the bound antibody surface at a flow rate of 50 μl/min for 3 minutes. Antibody binding kinetic parameters including k_(a) (association rate constant), k_(d) (dissociation rate constant), and K_(D) (dissociation equilibrium constant) were determined using the BIA evaluation 3.1 computer program (BIAcore, Inc. Piscataway, N.J.). Lower dissociation equilibrium constants indicate greater affinity of the antibody for HGF. Data are presented in FIG. 6A.

The K_(D) values of each of four antibodies to HGF (those ultimately derived from hybridomas 2.4.4, 1.29.1, 1.74.2, and 2.12.1) were also measured using an equilibrium binding method. That method was performed with a BIAcore®3000 (Biacore, Inc., Piscataway, N.J.) using PBS with 0.005% P20 surfactant (BIAcore, Inc. Piscataway, N.J.) as running buffer. The four antibodies to HGF were separately immobilized to research grade CM5 sensor chips (Biacore, Inc. Piscataway, N.J.) via primary amine groups using an Amine Coupling Kit (Biacore, Inc. Piscataway, N.J.) following the manufacturer's instructions.

In separate assays, each of the four antibodies to HGF, over a range of concentrations (from 0.01 nM to 50 nM) was separately incubated with each of two different concentrations (0.05 nM and 1 nM) of human HGF in PBS with 0.005% P-20 and 0.1 mg/mL BSA at room temperature for at least six hours. Each of those samples was then injected over a surface of a CM5 sensor chip onto which the same antibody to HGF had been immobilized. The binding signal obtained was proportional to the free HGF in solution. The dissociation equilibrium constant (K_(D)) was obtained from nonlinear regression analysis of the competition curves using a dual-curve one-site homogeneous binding model (KinExA software, Sapidyne Instruments Inc., Boise Id.). Those dissociation equilibrium constant values are presented in FIG. 6B.

B. Specificity of Binding of Antibodies to HGF

Human HGF was either expressed in CHO cells or purchased from R&D Systems (R & D Systems, Minneapolis Minn., Cat #294-HG-005). Recombinant mouse HGF was prepared using the sequence in Liu et al., Molecular cloning and characterization of cDNA encoding mouse hepatocyte growth factor, Biochim Biophys Acta. 16:1216(2):299-300 (1993). Recombinant mouse HGF was obtained either by expression in insect cells using a baculovirus vector, or by expression in 293T cells. In either event, mouse HGF was purified by heparin sulfate affinity chromatography.

Each of the preparations of human and mouse HGF was shown to be biologically active. Human HGF induced a dose-dependent human Met phosphorylation in human PC3 cells (ATCC Manassas, Va. # CRL 1435) and in mouse 4T1 cells (ATCC Manassas, Va. # CRL 2531). Mouse HGF induced Met phosphorylation in mouse 4T1 cells, but not human PC3 cells.

Human HGF and mouse HGF were run on separate lanes of SDS PAGE gels. Human HGF and mouse HGF were each separately run at 100 ng/lane and at 10 ng/lane. Some gels were run under non-reducing conditions and other separate gels were run under reducing conditions using beta-mercaptoethanol. The human HGF and mouse HGF in the SDS PAGE gels were transferred to nitrocellulose membranes. Those membranes were separately incubated with one of the ten antibodies to HGF described in Example 6. Each of the ten antibodies to HGF was separately incubated with nitrocellulose membranes from gels containing human HGF and mouse HGF under reducing and with nitrocellulose membranes from gels containing human HGF and mouse HGF under non-reducing conditions. The membranes were then incubated with a goat anti-human IgG antibody linked to HRP (Pierce, Rockford, Ill., Cat. #31412). Signal from that goat anti-human IgG antibody linked to HRP was detected by electrochemiluminescence (ECL™; Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, N.J., Cat. # RPN₂₁₀₆) following the manufacturer's instructions.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show pictures of gels testing each of the ten antibodies to HGF described in Example 6. The panels on the left show gels testing each antibody against 100 ng of human HGF (lane 1), 10 ng of human HGF (lane 2), 100 ng of mouse HGF, and 10 ng of mouse HGF (lane 4) under non-reducing conditions. The panels on the right show gels testing each antibody against 100 ng of human HGF (lane 5), 10 ng of human HGF (lane 6), 100 ng of mouse HGF (lane 7), and 10 ng of mouse HGF (lane 8) under reducing conditions. Each of the antibodies to HGF tested bound to human HGF under non-reducing conditions (lanes 1 and 2). None of the antibodies to HGF tested bound significantly to mouse HGF under non-reducing conditions (lanes 3 and 4), or to human HGF (lanes 5 and 6) or mouse HGF (lanes 7 and 8) under reducing conditions.

C. Epitope Mapping using Fusion Proteins

A mammalian expression vector comprising a cDNA sequence encoding chicken avidin adjacent to the multiple cloning site of vector pCEP4 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif., cat# V044-50) was constructed using standard molecular techniques (FIG. 9A). That vector included the chicken avidin signal sequence (FIG. 9B) to enable secretion of subsequently expressed fusion proteins. Expression vectors were constructed by inserting sequence encoding a particular target protein into the multiple cloning site of the fusion protein expression vector. The resulting fusion constructs each encoded an avidin protein at the N-terminus of a target protein.

Using this technique, fusion proteins comprising avidin fused to the following target proteins were prepared: full-length human HGF; d5 HGF, which is a naturally occurring splice variant of human HGF (Rubin, J. et al. PNAS 88:415-419 (1991)); full-length mouse HGF; chimera #1 comprising an N-terminal portion of human HGF (amino acids 32-505) and a C-terminal portion of mouse HGF (amino acids 508-728); chimera #2 comprising an N-terminal portion of mouse HGF (amino acids 33-506) and a C-terminal portion of human HGF (amino acids 506-728); and chimera #3 comprising an N-terminal portion of human HGF (amino acids 32-582) and a C-terminal portion of mouse HGF (amino acids 583-728).

A schematic representation of the fusion proteins is shown in FIG. 10. The N-terminal domain of HGF contains four kringle domains, represented by boxes labeled K1-K4. The C-terminal domain of HGF shares homology with serine proteases. That domain is represented by bars. Open boxes and solid bars indicate human HGF sequences. Shaded boxes and strippled bars indicate mouse sequences.

The individual fusion proteins were transiently expressed in 293T cells by separately transfecting cells with one of the individual fusion protein expression vectors using Lipofectamine (Gibco BRL, Carlsbad, Calif., Cat #18324) following the manufacturers instructions. Approximately 48 hours after transfection, conditioned media was collected and assayed.

In separate samples, five of the ten antibodies to HGF described in Example 6 (those ultimately derived from hybridomas 2.4.4, 1.74.1, 1.75.1, 3.10.1, and 2.12.1) were separately incubated with fusion proteins comprising each of the following target proteins: full-length human HGF, d5 HGF, and mouse HGF. After incubation, the fusion proteins in each sample were separately captured using biotin-coated beads (Spherotech Inc., Libertyville, Ill., Cat # TP-60-5). The resulting bead-protein complexes were labeled by adding FITC labeled anti-avidin antibody (Vector Lab, Burlingame, Calif., Cat. # SP-2040). The presence of antibodies to HGF was determined by adding phycoerythrin (PE) labeled goat anti-human F(ab′)2 antibody (Southern Biotech Associates, Inc, Birmingham, Ala., Cat #2043-09).

Those samples were then subjected to Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter (FACS) analysis. Bead complexes labeled by FITC (which indicated the presence of avidin) and/or PE (which indicated the presence of antibody to HGF) were detected on a Becton Dickinson Bioscience FACScan (BD, Franklin Lakes, N.J.). FACS scatter plots for the five antibodies to HGF tested are presented in FIGS. 8A and 8B.

In separate samples, two of the ten antibodies to HGF described in Example 6 (those ultimately derived from hybidomas 2.12.1 and 2.4.4) were separately incubated with fusion proteins comprising each of the following target proteins: full-length human HGF, d5 HGF, and mouse HGF, chimera #1, chimera #2, and chimera #3. Those samples were subjected to FACS analysis as described above.

The results of those binding experiments are summarized in FIG. 10A, to the right of the schematic diagram. Neither antibody 2.12.1, nor 2.4.4 bound to the chimera #1. Both antibody 2.12.1 and antibody 2.4.4 bound to chimera #2 Antibody 2.4.4 bound to chimera #3. Antibody 2.12.1 did not bind to chimera #3.

D. Further Epitope Mapping using Fusion Proteins

To provide additional information about the epitope(s) of HGF to which antibodies 2.4.4 and 2.12.1 bind, further human/mouse chimeras were constructed and assayed as described above in Example 8C (FIG. 10B). The primers used to generate the chimeras are shown in Table 10.

TABLE 10 Oligonucleotides Used to Generate Human/Mouse HGF Chimeras and Point Mutants, Insertions and Deletions SEQ Break points ID NO. Oligo # Sequence n Construct or mutation 124 3201-76 ATG CGT CTC CCT TGA TGA 33 pt. mutant hHGFR647Q TGC TGG CTG CAT TTC 125 3201-75 ATG CGT CTC TCA AGG GAA 33 pt. mutant hHGFR647Q GGT GAC TCT GAA TGA 126 3201-72 ATG CGT CTC TAA CTA GGT 36 pt. mutant hHGFN601S AAA TCA ATC GTA CTA ACA 127 3201-71 ATG CGT CTC TAG TTA TGG 35 pt. mutant hHGFN601S ATG CAC AAT TCC TGA AA 128 3201-70 ATG CGT CTC AAT TAT CCA 32 pt. mutant hHGFD592N GGA CAG CAG GCC TG 129 3201-69 ATG CGT CTC ATA ATT TTG 37 pt. mutant hHGFD592N TTA GTA CGA TTG ATT TAC C 130 3201-68 ATG CGT CTC GCG TTT CTC 32 pt. mutant hHGFC561R ATC TCC TCT TCC GT 131 3201-67 ATG CGT CTC AAA CGC AAA 34 pt. mutant hHGFC561R CAG GTT CTC AAT GTT T 132 3201-66 ATG CGT CTC CTT TCG TGG 34 pt. mutant hHGFG555E ACA TCA TGA ATT CCA A 133 3201-65 ATG CGT CTC CGA AAG AGG 34 pt. mutant hHGFG555E AGA TGA GAA ATG CAA A 134 3201-64 GAG CAG CTG CTA GCA AGC 24 restriction hHGF n- TTG CTA site terminal + NotI 135 3167-41 ATG CGT CTC AGA GAC TTG 35 deletion mHGF DK AAA GAC TAT GAA GCT TG deletion 136 3167-42 ATG CGT CTC GTC TCT GGC 34 deletion mHGF DK TGG AAA ACA TTG TCT T deletion 137 3167-44 ATG CGT CTC AAA AAA GAC 38 insertion hHGF DK TTG AAA GAT TAT GAA GCT insertion TG 138 3167-43 ATG CGT CTC TTT GTT TCG 36 Insertion hHGF DK AGA AGG GAA ACA CTG TCG insertion 139 3167-37 ATG CGT CTC AAG CTT GCC 29 chimera 9 hHGF aa586-3′ AGG CCT GCT GT 140 3167-40 ATG CGT CTC AAG CTT CAG 33 chimera 9 mHGF 5′-aa585 TAA AAC CAA GTC TGA 141 3167-38 ATG CGT CTC AAG CTT GCT 30 chimera 8 mHGF aa596-3′ CGA CCT GCA ATC 142 3167-39 ATG CGT CTC AAG CTT CAT 33 chimera 8 hHGF 5′-aa585 TAA AAC CAG ATC TGA 143 3167-37 ATG CGT CTC AAG CTT GCC 29 chimera 7 hHGF aa586-3′ AGG CCT GCT GT 144 3167-40 ATG CGT CTC AAG CTT CAG 33 chimera 7 mHGF 5′-aa585 TAA AAC CAA GTC TGA 145 3167-38 ATG CGT CTC AAG CTT GCT 30 chimera 3 mHGF aa586-3′ CGA CCT GCA ATC 146 3167-39 ATG CGT CTC AAG CTT CAT 33 chimera 3 hHGF 5′-aa585 TAA AAC CAG ATC TGA 147 3167-35 ATG CGT CTC TAG GAT GGA 33 chimera 2 hHGF aa507-3′ TGG TTA GTT TGA GAT 148 3167-36 ATG CGT CTC ATC CTA CTG 34 chimera 2 mHGF 5′-aa506 TTG TTT GTG TTG GAA T 149 3144-31 ATG CGT CTC TAG GAT GGA 34 chimera 1 mHGF aa507-3′ TGG TTA GTT TGA AAT A 150 3080-16 ATG CGT CTC ATC CTA TGT 31 chimera 1 hHGF 5′-aa506 TTG TTC GTG TTG G 151 3080-04 ATG CGT CTC ATG CAT CCA 32 chimera 6 hHGF aa307-3′ AGG TCA AGG AGA AG 152 3144-28 ATG CGT CTC ATG CAT TCA 32 chimera 6 mHGF 5′-aa306 GTT GTT TCC ATA GG 153 3079-84 ATG CGT CTC ATG CAT GAC 31 chimera 5 hHGF aa213-3′ CTG CAA TGG GGA G 154 3144-27 ATG CGT CTC ATG CAT TCA 33 chimera 5 mHGF 5′-aa212 ACT TCT GAA CAC TGA 155 3079-77 ATG CGT CTC ATG CAT CAT 31 chimera 4 hHGF aa129-3′ TGG TAA AGG ACG C 156 3079-78 ATG CGT CTC ATG CAG TTT 38 chimera 4 mHGF 5′-aa128 CTA ATA TAG TCT TTG TTT TC 157 3079-83 ATG GGA TCC CTA TGA CTG  32 restriction hHGF c- TGG TAC CTT ATA TG site terminal + BamHI 158 2870-60 ATG CGG CCG CAC AAA GGA  36 restriction hHGF n- AAA GAA GAA ATA CAA TTC site terminal + NotI 159 3013-96 CGG GAT CCT TAC AAC TTG 32 restriction mHGF c- TAT GTC AAA ATT AC site terminal + BamHI 160 3013-95 ATG ATG GCG GCC GCT CAG  40 restriction mHGF n- AAG AAA AGA AGA AAT site terminal + NotI ACA CTT C

FIG. 10B shows schematic drawings of the mouse and human HGF chimeric molecules created for the study, with the binding behavior of antibodies 2.12.1 and 2.4.4 to each chimera indicated on the right-hand side of the figure. Chimeras #1-3 in this study were identical to chimeras #1-3 described in Example 8C and FIG. 10A. Chimeras #4-6 incorporated increasing amounts of the N-terminus of mouse HGF into an otherwise entirely human HGF molecule. Chimera #7 utilized amino acids 507-585 of mouse HGF in an otherwise human HGF molecule, and chimera #8 utilized amino acids 507-585 of human HGF in an otherwise mouse HGF molecule. Chimera #9 was constructed from amino acids 1-585 of mouse HGF and amino acids 586-731 of human HGF.

Binding of antibodies 2.4.4 and 2.12.1 to the chimeric proteins was assayed as described in Example 8C. After incubation of either antibody 2.4.4 or antibody 2.12.1 with one of the fusion proteins, the fusion proteins in each sample were separately captured using biotin-coated beads (Spherotech Inc., Libertyville, Ill., Cat # TP-60-5). The resulting bead-protein complexes were labeled by adding FITC labeled anti-avidin antibody (Vector Lab, Burlingame, Calif., Cat. # SP-2040). The presence of antibodies to HGF was determined by adding phycoerythrin (PE) labeled goat anti-human F(ab′)2 antibody (Southern Biotech Associates, Inc, Birmingham, Ala., Cat #2043-09). Those samples were then subjected to Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter (FACS) analysis. Bead complexes labeled by FITC (which indicated the presence of avidin) and/or PE (which indicated the presence of antibody to HGF) were detected on a Becton Dickinson Bioscience FACScan (BD, Franklin Lakes, N.J.). In some cases, after expression normalization using FITC, single-color FACS analysis was performed following antibody binding by the PE label. This method increased the sensitivity of the assay and aided the measurement of binding with constructs that were not expressed at very high levels.

As shown in FIG. 10B, both antibodies 2.4.4 and 2.12.1 bound chimera #8 (FIG. 10B), which contains amino acids 507-585 of human HGF. Those results suggested that that region contains residues involved directly or indirectly in binding of antibody 2.4.4 and 2.12.1 to HGF. Chimeras that contained the mouse sequence in this same 507-585 region (chimeras 7 and 9) did not bind antibodies 2.12.1 or 2.4.4. Chimera 3 did not bind to antibody 2.12.1 but did bind to antibody 2.4.4, despite the presence of amino acids 507-585 of human HGF.

To obtain further information about amino acids 507-585 of human HGF (GWMVSLRYRNKHICGGSLIKESWVLTARQCFPSR—-DLKDYEAWLGIHDVHGRGDEKCKQVLNVSQLVYGPEGSDLVLM (SEQ ID NO: 123) (see FIG. 10D)), mutant HGF containing specific point mutations changing the human residue to the mouse residue within the region of amino acids 507-585 were created (FIG. 10C), using primers set forth in Table 10. Human HGF-avidin fusion proteins containing five single, non-conservative amino acid changes from the human HGF sequence to the mouse HGF sequence (Genbank Accession No. NM_(—)000601 and NM_(—)010427, respectively) were constructed. Two additional constructs were also created, one containing a two amino acid insertion into the human HGF sequence, and the other containing a two amino acid deletion from the mouse sequence (FIG. 10C).

These constructs were expressed and subjected to binding analysis as described in Examples 8C and 8D. After incubation of either antibody 2.4.4 or antibody 2.12.1 with one of the mutated proteins, the mutated proteins in each sample were separately captured using biotin-coated beads (Spherotech Inc., Libertyville, Ill., Cat # TP-60-5). The resulting bead-protein complexes were labeled by adding FITC labeled anti-avidin antibody (Vector Lab, Burlingame, Calif., Cat. # SP-2040). The presence of antibodies to HGF was determined by adding phycoerythrin (PE) labeled goat anti-human F(ab′)2 antibody (Southern Biotech Associates, Inc, Birmingham, Ala., Cat #2043-09). Those samples were then subjected to Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter (FACS) analysis. Bead complexes labeled by FITC (which indicated the presence of avidin) and/or PE (which indicated the presence of antibody to HGF) were detected on a Becton Dickinson Bioscience FACScan (BD, Franklin Lakes, N.J.). In some cases, after expression normalization using FITC, single-color FACS analysis was performed following antibody binding by the PE label. This method increased the sensitivity of the assay and aided the measurement of binding with constructs that were not expressed at very high levels.

It was found that mutations at amino acid 561, but not amino acids 592, 601, or 647, disrupted binding between the mutated human HGF and antibody 2.12.1 as well as between mutated human HGF and antibody 2.4.4. The mutation at amino acid 555 disrupted antibody 2.12.1 binding, but did not interfere with antibody 2.4.4 binding. Insertion of the two mouse amino acids 540N and 541K, not present in the human sequence (see FIG. 10D), disrupted binding to either antibody. The deletion of those two amino acids from the mouse HGF sequence, did not result in binding of either antibody to the mouse HGF.

E. Epitope Mapping by Protease Protection Assays

Complementary classical protease protection assays were also performed to identify the HGF epitopes bound by antibody 2.12.1. See Yi and Skalka, Mapping Epitopes of Monoclonal Antibodies Against HIV-1 Integrase with Limited Proteolysis and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry, Biopolymers (Peptide Science) 55: 308-318 (2000). Human HGF (30 ug/10 ul) was mixed with antibody 2.12.1 (40 μg/4 ul) in 200 ul of 0.1 M Tris buffer, pH 7.5 and incubated on ice for 30 minutes. Digestion with trypsin (1 μg) was carried out at 37° C. for 1 hour. The digested material was subjected to reverse phase HPLC for peptide separation. A similar trypsin digest of human HGF alone, without antibody 2.12.1, was carried out in parallel. The HPLC column (Vydac C18, 2.1×150 mm, Vydac Inc., Hesperia Calif.) was run in 0.1% trifluoro aceticacid (TFA) with an elution gradient of 2-35% acetonitrile in 0.1% TFA. The UV trace of the eluting peptides was recorded by an HP 1090 HPLC device (Hewlett Packard, Palo Alto). The two HPLC maps were compared to investigate peptides that were protected by bound to antibody 2.12.1 (FIG. 11A).

Subsequent N-terminal sequencing and mass spectrometry was performed to identify the specific protected peptides. N-terminal peptide sequencing was performed by Edman degradation on an ABI-Procise protein sequencer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.). The amino acids in each cycle were identified by the retention time on the coupled HPLC device and comparison to amino acid standards. Mass spectrometry of the protected fragments was performed on a Perceptive Voyager mass spectrometer (Applied Biosystems, Framingham, Mass.). Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) was performed using the matrix, 4-hydroxycyanocinnamic acid (HCCA) or sinapic acid. Molecular weights were determined by calibration relative to known standards (oxidized insulin beta chain and cytochrome c).

The α subunit of human HGF spans amino acids 32-494, and the β subunit spans amino acids 495-728 (see Swiss-Prot entry P14210 for human HGF). Antibody 2.12.1 binding to human HGF protected two peaks, T33 and T38.6. (FIG. 11A). Peak T38.6 contained two peptides, both corresponding to sequences at or near the beginning of the β subunit of mature HGF (see FIG. 10D, sequence beginning at the bold, underlined text (VVNGIPTRTN (SEQ ID NO: 172)) and FIG. 11C). T33 was derived from the α subunit (FIG. 11C). Based on mass spectrometry, the observed masses of the two peptides in peak T38.6 were measured to be 7165 and 6840 Daltons, respectively. Based on the possible trypsin cleavage sites present in the sequence of HGF (see, for example, the bold underlined arginine residue at amino acid 559 of human HGF in FIG. 10D), arginine residue number 559 is predicted to define the C-terminus of the protected peptides.

Another complementary experiment was also designed to investigate antibody-binding peptides. The mixture of HGF and antibody 2.12.1, as described above, was digested with trypsin for one hour and was then subjected to filtration by Microcon® 10 (Millipore Corp., Bedford, Mass.) to remove the unbound peptides. The bound peptides were expected to be captured by the membrane together with antibody 2.12.1. Intact human HGF (15 μg) was added to the peptide-antibody 2.12.1 mixture to elute the bound peptide(s) from the complex. The sample was incubated overnight at 4° C. and was again subjected to filtration by Microcon® 10 to separate the HGF-eluted peptides from the antibody and intact HGF. Both samples (bound and unbound peptides) were analyzed by reverse phase HPLC (FIG. 11B). Bound peptides were isolated by HPLC and subjected to N-terminal sequencing and mass spectrometry as described above.

When HGF was used to elute bound peptides, a large peptide peak (T48 in FIG. 11B) was observed to elute from the antibody-HGF complex and was identified by N-terminal peptide sequencing to contain the same two β subunit sequences found in T38.6, above. The size of the peptide(s) in peak T48 was heterogeneous based on the mass spectrometry and therefore a precise C-terminus could not be predicted from this data. Three other peaks (labeled # in FIG. 11B) either contained no peptide or a peptide of unknown origin, unrelated to HGF.

Together, these two experiments indicated that the N-terminal region of the beta subunit of HGF is part of the epitope for antibody 2.12.1. This data complements the data in Example 8D, where it was found that the epitopes involved in binding were located within amino acids 507-585 of human HGF. The mutational analysis and the molecular masses of the protected peptides show that the antibody-binding epitope of human HGF is located within amino acids 495-556 of human HGF.

F. Competition Binding of Antibodies

Antibodies to HGF described in Example 6 ultimately derived from hybridoma 2.4.4 (antibody 2.4.4) and antibodies to HGF ultimately derived from hybridoma 2.12.1 (antibody 2.12.1) were FITC labeled for use in competition assays as follows. Antibodies 2.4.4 and 2.12.1 were separately dialyzed in PBS pH 8.5. FITC label ([6-fluorescein-5-(and -6)-carboxamido]hexanoic acid, succinimidyl ester (5(6)-SFX] mixed isomers) (Molecular Probes. Cat # F-2181) was added to each of the two dialyzed antibodies at a molar ratio 5:1 (label:antibody) from a stock solution of FITC label at 5 mg/ml in DMSO. Those mixtures were incubated at room temperature (20-22° C.) overnight in the dark. The mixtures were then each separately run through Pharmacia PD-10 columns (Amersham, Piscataway, N.J.) which had been equilibrated with PBS. The resulting preparations were read on a spectrophotometer at 280 nM and 495 nM. The antibody concentrations of those preparations were calculated using absorbance at 280 nm. The ratio of labeled antibody to unlabeled antibody was calculated using the following formula:

${\frac{Ax}{E} \times \frac{M\; W\mspace{14mu} {antibody}}{{mg}\mspace{14mu} {antibody}\text{/}{ml}}} = \frac{{mole}\mspace{14mu} {labeled}\mspace{14mu} {antibody}}{{mole}\mspace{14mu} {unlabeled}\mspace{14mu} {antibody}}$

where Ax=label absorbency at 495 nm, and E=extinction coefficient of label=77500. Typically, antibody was labeled about 3:1 (FITC-labeled antibody:unlabeled antibody).

The ability of each of the two labeled antibodies to compete for binding with each of the other nine antibodies to HGF was assessed. Each of the two labeled antibody to HGF was separately incubated with HGF and each of the two labeled antibody to HGF was also separately incubated with HGF in the presence of a 50-fold molar excess of one of the other nine antibodies to HGF that had not been labeled. Thus, in nine separate samples, labeled antibody 2.4.4 was separately incubated with HGF along with each of the other nine antibodies to HGF that had not been labeled. Likewise, in nine separate samples, labeled antibody 2.12.1 was separately incubated HGF along with each of the other nine antibodies to HGF that had not been labeled. Each of these combinations was also repeated using the d5 splice variant of HGF instead of full-length HGF.

The positive competition control for these competition assays was to incubate each labeled antibody with a 50-fold molar excess of the same antibody that was not labeled. Thus, FITC labeled antibody 2.12.1 was incubated in the presence of, and separately in the absence of, a 50-fold molar excess of unlabeled antibody 2.12.1. Likewise, FITC labeled antibody 2.4.4 was incubated in the presence of, and in the absence of, a 50-fold molar excess of unlabeled antibody 2.4.4. As expected, the fluorescence signals from samples in the presence of a 50-fold molar excess of unlabeled antibodies were significantly lower than the fluorescence signals from samples in which unlabeled antibodies were not added.

Binding profiles are provided in FIG. 12. FIGS. 12A and 12B show experiments using labeled antibody 2.12.1. Key to curves in all panels of 12A and 12B: A: negative control (FITC-labeled antibody 2.12.1 without HGF); B: positive control (FITC labeled antibody 2.12.1 with HGF); C: antibody 1.74.1; D: antibody 1.75.1; E: antibody 1.29.1; F: antibody 3.10.1; G: antibody 1.61.3; H: antibody 1.24.1; I: antibody 1.60.1; J: antibody 2.40.1; K: antibody 2.12.1; L: antibody 2.4.4. FIG. 12A shows results from a competitive binding assay using fluorescent antibody 2.12.1 with the d5 HGF splice variant target protein. FIG. 12B shows results from a competitive binding assay using fluorescent antibody 2.12.1 with full length HGF target protein. FIGS. 12C and 12D show experiments using labeled antibody 2.4.4. Key to curves in all panels of 12C and 12D: A: negative control (FITC-labeled antibody 2.4.4 without HGF); B: positive control (FITC labeled antibody 2.4.4 with HGF); C: antibody 1.74.1; D: antibody 1.75.1; E: antibody 1.29.1; F: antibody 3.10.1; G: antibody 1.61.3; H: antibody 1.24.1; I: antibody 1.60.1; J: antibody 2.40.1; K: antibody 2.12.1; L: antibody 2.4.4. FIG. 12C shows results from a competitive binding assay using fluorescent antibody 2.4.4 with the d5 HGF splice variant target protein. FIG. 12D shows results from a competitive binding assay using fluorescent antibody 2.4.4 with full length HGF target protein.

The data indicate that each of the ten antibodies to HGF competes with each of the two labeled antibodies for binding to full length or d5 HGF. Some of the antibodies exhibited complete competition with the labeled antibody. (e.g. antibodies 2.12.1, 1.24.1 and 2.4.4 compete completely with FITC-labeled antibody 2.12.1, FIGS. 12A and 12B, peaks H, K and L, respectively). Other antibodies only partially competed for binding (e.g. antibodies 2.12.1, 2.40.1 and 1.61.3 partially compete with FITC-labeled 2.4.4, FIGS. 12C and 12D, peaks K, J and G, respectively).

Example 9 Neutralizing ELISA Assays

A neutralization ELISA assay was developed to assess whether the antibodies discussed in Example 6 could interrupt Met-HGF binding. Delphia 96-well plates (Cat#: AAAND-0001, Wallac Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.) were coated with HGF by adding 100 μl of HGF at 6.25 μg/ml per well. The plates were incubated at 37° C. for 1 hour or at 4° C. overnight. The plates were then blocked with 5% BSA (Cat#50-61-00, KPL, Gaithersburg, Md.) in PBS containing 0.1% Tween 20 for 1 hour at room temperature with shaking.

Test samples were prepared by separately mixing soluble Met (2 nM, 0.256 μg/ml) with different concentrations of a particular antibody to HGF being tested. The concentrations tested were: 667 nM, 223 nM, 74.1 nM, 24.7 nM, 8.2 nM, 2.7 nM, 0.91 nM, 0.30 nM, 0.10 nM, and 0.034 nM. A volume of 100 μl of a test sample was added to each well of the plates. The plates were then incubated at 4° C. overnight and then washed 4 times with PBS containing 0.1% Tween 20. Next, 100 μl per well of Biotinylated anti-cMetR antibody (Cat#: BAF358, R&D Systems Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.) at 2 μg/ml, was added. That antibody binds to the Met-HGF complexes on the plate, but does not bind to anti-HGF antibody bound to the HGF on the plate. The plates were then incubated for 2 hours with shaking, and were washed 4 times with PBS containing 0.1% Tween 20. Eu-streptavidin (1:1000 dilution in Assay buffer) (Cat#1244-360, Wallac Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.) was added and the plates were shaken at room temperature for 1 hour. The plates were then washed 4 times with PBS containing 0.1% Tween 20. Next, 100 μl of enhancement buffer (Wallac Inc., Cat#: 1244-105, Gaithersburg, Md.) was added. After at least for 5 minutes, the plates were read using Europium method on Victor 2 (1420 Multilabel Counter, Wallac Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.).

Percent inhibition of Met binding to HGF (i.e. neutralization) was calculated and IC₅₀ values were determined using the 4 parameter fit equation Excelfit, Version 2.0.6, (Microsoft Inc, Seattle, Wash.). In the presence of the antibodies to HGF discussed in Examples 6, Met binding to HGF was neutralized. Data for two experiments are shown in FIG. 13.

Example 10 Neutralization in Cells A. Met Phosphorylation

HGF induces Met phosphorylation in PC-3 cells (ATCC, Manassas, Va. # CRL 1435). PC-3 cells were grown in 96-well Falcon tissue culture plates (VWR, San Diego, Calif., Cat. #62740-081) by adding 1×10⁴ PC-3 cells per well in 100 μl RPMI 1640 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif., Cat. #11875-093) containing 5% Fetal Bovine Serum (Hyclone, Logan, Utah, Cat. # SH 30070.03) and 1× penicillin, streptomycin, glutamine (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif., Cat. #10378-016). After 24 hours of growth at 37° C. under 5% CO2, the cells were rinsed once with DMEM-low glucose (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif., Cat. #11885-084) containing 0.1% bovine serum albumin (Sigma, Louis, Mo., Cat. #A-3156) and incubated for 18 to 20 hours with 100 μl DMEM-low glucose media containing 0.1% bovine serum albumin (Sigma, Louis, Mo., Cat. #A-3156).

Eight different dilutions of each of the ten antibodies to HGF from Example 6 were separately prepared by serial dilution in media (DMEM-low glucose with 0.1% bovine serum albumin) containing 200 ng/ml HGF. The concentrations of the antibodies to HGF in the separate dilutions were: 200 nM, 67 nM, 22 nM, 7 nM, 2.5 nM, 1 nM, 0.3 nM, and 0.1 nM of a particular antibody to HGF. Those antibody/HGF dilutions were incubated for 30 minutes at 37° C.

The PC-3 cells were rinsed once with 100 μl DMEM-low glucose containing 0.1% bovine serum albumin. Then 100 μl of each of the antibody/HGF dilutions was separately added to separate wells of PC-3 cells. After incubation for 10 minutes at 37° C. under 5% CO2, the antibody/HGF dilutions were aspirated from the wells, and the plates were placed on ice for 1-2 minutes. The cells were rinsed once with 100 μl ice-cold PBS containing 0.3 mM sodium-ortho vanadate (Sigma, Louis, Mo., Cat. #S-6508). The washed cells were incubated for 15-30 minutes on ice in 60 μl lysis buffer containing 1% Triton X-100 (Pierce, Rockford, Ill., Cat. #28314), 50 mM Tris pH8, 100 mM NaCl, 0.3 mM sodium-ortho vanadate (Sigma, Louis, Mo., Cat. #S-6508) and 1× protease inhibitor cocktail (Sigma Cat. # P-8340).

Anti-Met antibody coated beads were prepared by incubating, Dynabeads M-280 Streptavidin (IGEN International, Gaithersburgh, Md., Cat. #110029) with 4 μg/ml of goat-anti Met-biotin (R&D Systems Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., Cat. # BAF 358) for 30 minutes at room temperature in PBS containing 1% bovine serum albumin (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo., Cat. # A-7888), 0.1% Tween 20 (Biorad, Hercules, Calif., Cat. #170-6531). A volume of 25 μl of anti-Met antibody coated beads per well was placed in 96-well Costar assay plates (Corning, N.Y., Cat. #3365).

A volume of 25 μl of each of the different PC-3 cell lysates was separately added to each well containing anti-Met antibody coated beads. The plates were incubated for 1 hour at room temperature with shaking. A volume of 12.5 μl of PBS containing 1% bovine serum albumin (Sigma, Louis, Mo., Cat. # A-7888), 0.1% Tween 20 (Biorad, Hercules, Calif., Cat. #170-6531) and 0.04 μg of the anti-Phosphotyrosine antibody 4G10 (Upstate Biotechnology, Lake Placid, N.Y., Cat. #05-321) was added per well and incubated for 1 hour at room temperature with shaking. A volume of 12.5 μl of PBS containing 1% bovine serum albumin, 0.1% Tween 20 and 8 μg/ml of anti-mouse ORI-TAG-label (IGEN International, Gaithersburgh, Md., Cat. #110087) was added and the plates were incubated for 30 minutes at room temperature with shaking. Signal (expressed in IGEN counts) was determined in IGEN M8 reader (IGEN International, Gaithersburgh, Md.). IC₅₀ values were calculated using the four parameter fit equation and the Excelfit software package, version 2.0.6, (Microsoft Inc., Seattle Wash.). Data for two experiments using the IGEN format is shown in FIG. 14. For each of the ten of the antibodies to HGF, IC₅₀ values were in the low nanamolar to sub-nanomolar range.

B. Neutralization of U-87 MG Growth/Survival

U-87 MG cells (ATCC # HTB-14) are a human glioblastoma line that expresses both Met and HGF. Growth/survival of those cells in culture is not enhanced by exogenous HGF. Endogenous Met, however, appears to be activated by endogenous HGF under growth conditions. Disruption of binding of the endogenous HGF to the endogenous Met may result in decreased growth and/or survival.

U-87 MG cells were grown in 96-well Costar assay plates (Corning, N.Y., Cat. #3365) by adding 800 cells per well in IMEM media (Gibco BRL, Rockville, Md., catalog #11125-028) containing 5% FBS. After approximately 24 hours, each of eleven different concentrations of each of the ten antibodies to HGF from Example 6 was added to separate wells of U-87 MG cells. The concentrations of the antibodies to HGF in the separate dilutions were: 100 μg/ml, 33.3 μg/ml, 11.1 μg/ml, 3.7 μg/ml, 1.2 μl/ml, 0.4 μg/ml, 0.14 μg/ml, 0.05 μg/ml, 0.015 μg/ml, 5.1 ng/ml, and 1.7 ng/ml of a particular antibody to HGF.

Seven days after the addition of the antibodies to HGF, the media was removed from the plates and the cells were fixed with 100 μl of 10% trichloroacetic acid (Sigma Inc., St Louis, Mo. Cat#: T-9159) per well and incubated at 4° C. for 1-2 hours. The wells were rinsed 5 times with tap water. The fixed cells were stained with 100 μl of 0.4% sulforhodamine B (Sigma, St Louis, Mo. Cat#: S-9012) in 1% acetic acid (Fisher, Pittsburgh, Pa. Cat#: UN2789) by a ten minute incubation at room temperature. Following the staining, the cells were washed 5 times with 1% acetic acid and air-dried. The optical density of the plates at 540 nm was read on a microtiter plate reader (SpectraMax PLUS, Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, Calif.). The optical density is proportional to the total amount of protein present in the cell monolayer, and thus is a measure of cell survival/proliferation over the 7-day assay period. To calculate IC₅₀ values, the percent inhibition was calculated compared to cells incubated with an isotype control antibody, or with no antibody. The IC₅₀ values were calculated using the four 4 parameter fit equation and the Excelfit software package, version 2.0.6, (Microsoft Inc., Seattle Wash.).

Data for two experiments are shown in FIG. 15. All ten of the antibodies to HGF described in Example 6 inhibited the growth/survival of the U-87 MG cells. The IC₅₀ values of each of the antibodies were typically less than 100 nM.

Example 11 Neutralizing in Xenograft Tumors A. U-87 MG Xenograft Minimal Residual Disease Model

U-87 MG cells were grown to near-confluency and then were suspended in serum-free medium at a concentration of 25×10⁶ cells/ml. The cells were visually assessed to be >98.5% viable, as determined by trypan blue exclusion. To test a single antibody to HGF, 5×10⁶ U-87 MG cells in serum free media were injected subcutaneously into the right flank of fifty female nude mice (CD1 Nu/Nu, Charles River Laboratories, Wilmington, Mass.). The fifty mice were placed into five groups of ten mice each.

Each mouse within a particular group of ten mice was treated by intra-peritoneal injection with the same dose of the same antibody to HGF discussed in Example 7, or with the IgG1 constant region (Isotype Control). The antibody doses tested were: 1 μg, 3 μg, 10 μg, and 30 μg per injection. The antibody injections were performed twice per week for four weeks, beginning on day 2 after injection of the U-87 MG cells. Tumor measurements and body weights were recorded twice per week for 30 days, and tumor volumes were calculated using the formula: length×width×height. Results were analyzed with the StatView® statistical program (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, N.C.) using repeated measures ANOVA, followed by Scheffe's post hoc test.

In separate experiments, each of the ten antibodies to HGF discussed in Example 6 was tested in this model. A dose-response experiment for antibody 2.4.4 is shown in FIG. 16A. Arrows indicate time of dosing, and the doses are shown in the legend. The number of animals at each dose (out of 10) with no measurable tumor is indicated in parenthesis. For the two highest doses tested, 10 μg administered twice per week and 30 μg administered twice per week, the inhibition of tumor growth was statistically significant when compared to control animals receiving the isotype control at 30 μg twice per week (human IgG2 #PK16.3.1, Abgenix Inc. Fremont, Calif.). Slight, but not statistically significant, growth inhibition was seen with the 2 lower doses (1 and 3 μg twice per week) of 2.4.4. Data are presented as the mean±standard error; n=10 animals per group and p <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Experiments testing the other nine antibodies to HGF from Example 6 showed similar complete inhibition of tumor growth at the higher doses.

B. U-87 MG Xenograft Established Disease Model

U-87 MG cells in serum-free media were injected into nude mice, following the procedure discussed above in Example 11A. Tumors were allowed to grow for approximately two weeks until they reached a volume of ˜200 mm³ before intra-peritoneal dosing with antibodies to HGF began. The mice were treated twice per week with antibody 2.4.4 at 200 μg, 100 μg, or 30 μg twice per week beginning on day 16, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 16B. Tumor volume was measured and evaluated as described above. The number of animals (out of 10) with no measurable tumor on day 30 is indicated in parenthesis. Complete inhibition of U-87 MG tumor growth was observed at all doses. Statistically significant regression of the established tumors was achieved by day 29. In separate experiments, each of the ten antibodies to HGF discussed in Example 6 were tested in this model and complete inhibition was observed at the higher doses of each antibody.

C. Ranking Antibodies in the U-87 MG Minimal Residual Disease Model

To determine the relative potency of the ten antibodies to HGF discussed in Example 6 in the U-87 MG tumor model discussed in Example 11A, a low dose that only partially inhibited tumor growth in the minimal residual disease model was chosen. Preliminary dose-response studies (FIG. 16A) suggested that 5 μg twice per week would give partial inhibition by the antibodies to HGF. A series of head-to-head experiments comparing up to 5 different antibodies to HGF were conducted. Results from two of these experiments are shown in FIGS. 16C and 16D. The ** indicates those antibodies to HGF that significantly inhibited tumor growth compared to the PBS and Isotype control IgG2 antibody (p <0.0001).

Similar rank ordering experiments were performed using the established U-87 disease model discussed in Example 11B. In those experiments, a dose of 10 μg, 2× per week was used. Results from two of these experiments are shown in FIGS. 16E and 16F. 

We claim:
 1. A method of treating cancer in a patient, the method comprising administering an antibody that binds human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), wherein the antibody is selected from the group consisting of: an antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:24 from residue 23 to residue 129 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25 from residue 20 to residue 141; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:26 from residue 21 to residue 133 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27 from residue 20 to residue 137; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:28 from residue 23 to residue 129 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 29 from residue 20 to residue 139; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30 from residue 23 to residue 129 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31 from residue 20 to residue 148; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:32 from residue 23 to residue 129 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 33 from residue 20 to residue 139; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:34 from residue 23 to residue 129 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 35 from residue 20 to residue 144; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:36 from residue 21 to residue 133 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 37 from residue 20 to residue 142; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:38 from residue 21 to residue 128 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 39 from residue 20 to residue 139; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:40 from residue 23 to residue 129 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 41 from residue 20 to residue 140; and an antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:42 from residue 21 to residue 128 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 43 from residue 20 to residue
 139. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the antibody comprises a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 36 from residue 21 to residue 133 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 37 from residue 20 to residue
 142. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the antibody comprises a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 38 from residue 21 to residue 128 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 39 from residue 20 to residue
 139. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the antibody is an immunologically functional immunoglobulin fragment that binds human HGF.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising administering chemotherapy.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising administering radiation therapy.
 7. A method for treating cancer in a patient, the method comprising administering an antibody that binds human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), wherein the antibody is selected from the group consisting of: an antibody comprising a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 60, 70, and 80, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 90, 100 and 110; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 61, 71, and 81, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 91, 101, and 111; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 62, 72, and 82, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 92, 102, and 112; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 63, 73, and 83, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 93, 103, and 113; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 64, 74, and 84, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 94, 104, and 114; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 65, 75, and 85, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 95, 105, and 115; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 66, 76, and 86, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 96, 106, and 116; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 67, 77, and 87, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 97, 107, and 117; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 68, 78, and 88, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 98, 108, and 118; and an antibody comprising a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 69, 79, and 89, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 99, 109, and
 119. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the antibody comprises a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 66, 76, and 86, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 96, 106, and
 116. 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the antibody comprises a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 67, 77, and 87, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 97, 107, and
 117. 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the antibody is an immunologically functional immunoglobulin fragment that binds human HGF.
 11. The method of claim 7, further comprising administering chemotherapy.
 12. The method of claim 7, further comprising administering radiation therapy.
 13. A method for treating cancer in a patient, the method comprising administering a fully human antibody that binds human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) comprising a light chain and a heavy chain, wherein the light chain comprises SEQ ID NOs: 67, 77, and 87 and the heavy chain comprises SEQ ID NOs: 97, 107, and
 117. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the light chain further comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 44 and the heavy chain further comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 46. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the antibody is an immunologically functional immunoglobulin fragment that binds human HGF.
 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising administering chemotherapy.
 17. The method of claim 13, further comprising administering radiation therapy.
 18. A method for treating cancer in a patient, the method comprising administering a fully human antibody that binds human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) comprising a light chain and a heavy chain, wherein the light chain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 38 from residue 21 to residue 128 and the heavy chain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 39 from residue 20 to residue
 139. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the light chain further comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 44 and the heavy chain further comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 46. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the antibody is an immunologically functional immunoglobulin fragment that binds human HGF.
 21. The method of claim 18, further comprising administering chemotherapy.
 22. The method of claim 18, further comprising administering radiation therapy.
 23. A method of treating cancer in a cancer patient, the method comprising administering an antibody which is capable of binding at least one amino acid sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO: 164 or SEQ ID NO: 165, wherein the antibody is humanized or fully human.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the antibody is an immunologically functional immunoglobulin fragment that binds human HGF.
 25. The method of claim 23, further comprising administering chemotherapy.
 26. The method of claim 23, further comprising administering radiation therapy.
 27. A method of treating a solid tumor in a patient, the method comprising administering an antibody that binds human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), wherein the antibody is selected from the group consisting of: an antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:24 from residue 23 to residue 129 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25 from residue 20 to residue 141; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:26 from residue 21 to residue 133 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27 from residue 20 to residue 137; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:28 from residue 23 to residue 129 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 29 from residue 20 to residue 139; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30 from residue 23 to residue 129 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31 from residue 20 to residue 148; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:32 from residue 23 to residue 129 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 33 from residue 20 to residue 139; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:34 from residue 23 to residue 129 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 35 from residue 20 to residue 144; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:36 from residue 21 to residue 133 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 37 from residue 20 to residue 142; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:38 from residue 21 to residue 128 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 39 from residue 20 to residue 139; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:40 from residue 23 to residue 129 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 41 from residue 20 to residue 140; and an antibody comprising a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:42 from residue 21 to residue 128 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 43 from residue 20 to residue
 139. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the antibody comprises a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 36 from residue 21 to residue 133 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 37 from residue 20 to residue
 142. 29. The method of claim 27, wherein the antibody comprises a light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 38 from residue 21 to residue 128 and a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 39 from residue 20 to residue
 139. 30. The method of claim 27, wherein the antibody is an immunologically functional immunoglobulin fragment that binds human HGF.
 31. The method of claim 27, further comprising administering chemotherapy.
 32. The method of claim 27, further comprising administering radiation therapy.
 33. A method for treating a solid tumor in a patient, the method comprising administering an antibody that binds human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), wherein the antibody is selected from the group consisting of: an antibody comprising a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 60, 70, and 80, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 90, 100 and 110; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 61, 71, and 81, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 91, 101, and 111; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 62, 72, and 82, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 92, 102, and 112; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 63, 73, and 83, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 93, 103, and 113; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 64, 74, and 84, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 94, 104, and 114; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 65, 75, and 85, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 95, 105, and 115; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 66, 76, and 86, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 96, 106, and 116; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 67, 77, and 87, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 97, 107, and 117; an antibody comprising a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 68, 78, and 88, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 98, 108, and 118; and an antibody comprising a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 69, 79, and 89, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 99, 109, and
 119. 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the antibody comprises a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 66, 76, and 86, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 96, 106, and
 116. 35. The method of claim 33, wherein the antibody comprises a light chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 67, 77, and 87, and a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NOs: 97, 107, and
 117. 36. The method of claim 33, wherein the antibody is an immunologically functional immunoglobulin fragment that binds human HGF.
 37. The method of claim 33, further comprising administering chemotherapy.
 38. The method of claim 33, further comprising administering radiation therapy.
 39. A method for treating a solid tumor in a patient, the method comprising administering a fully human antibody that binds human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) comprising a light chain and a heavy chain, wherein the light chain comprises SEQ ID NOs: 67, 77, and 87 and the heavy chain comprises SEQ ID NOs: 97, 107, and
 117. 40. The method of claim 39, wherein the light chain further comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 44 and the heavy chain further comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 46. 41. The method of claim 39, wherein the antibody is an immunologically functional immunoglobulin fragment that binds human HGF.
 42. The method of claim 39, further comprising administering chemotherapy.
 43. The method of claim 39, further comprising administering radiation therapy.
 44. A method for treating a solid tumor in a patient, the method comprising administering a fully human antibody that binds human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) comprising a light chain and a heavy chain, wherein the light chain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 38 from residue 21 to residue 128 and the heavy chain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 39 from residue 20 to residue
 139. 45. The method of claim 44, wherein the light chain further comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 44 and the heavy chain further comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 46. 46. The method of claim 44, wherein the antibody is an immunologically functional immunoglobulin fragment that binds human HGF.
 47. The method of claim 44, further comprising administering chemotherapy.
 48. The method of claim 44, further comprising administering radiation therapy.
 49. A method of treating cancer in a cancer patient, the method comprising administering an antibody which is capable of binding at least one amino acid sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO: 164 or SEQ ID NO: 165, wherein the antibody is humanized or fully human.
 50. The method of claim 49, wherein the antibody is an immunologically functional immunoglobulin fragment that binds human hepatocyte growth factor.
 51. The method of claim 49, further comprising administering chemotherapy.
 52. The method of claim 49, further comprising administering radiation therapy. 